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GULF COAST CONFERENCE ON ADDICTION AND RECOVERY
steering committee
​Virginia Guy has served as Executive Director of the Drug Education Council since 1991. She is passionate about raising awareness that drug abuse can be effectively prevented; treatment for drug addiction works; and people can and do recover. Anyone who has ever been faced with an employee, friend, family member, or loved one who is suffering from a substance use disorder knows the situation is frustrating, painful, and complex. Virginia is always available to talk with community groups, businesses, schools, families, or individuals about strategies to help solve their specific problem. In addition to undergraduate and graduate course work, her educational background includes graduation from the Rutgers University School of Alcohol & Drug Studies. In her free time, she enjoys playing golf and travelling, but most of all, she loves spending time at her little beach cottage.
Eileene has worked in the field of substance misuses rehabilitation for over 40 years. She has recently retired from The Cumberland Heights Foundation where she served as the collegiate liaison for 10 years.
She brought the MSU Collegiate Recovery Community to Mississippi State working closely with the Student Health Center and the Student Counseling Center. She has continued to serve one the MSU CRC Advisory Board since its inception. She also serves on the CRC Advisory Boards at the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi.
While at Cumberland Heights, Eileene founded the Southeastern Collegiate Recovery Summit, which is held each year to promote scholarships for recovering students, and to teach new schools how to begin a CRP on their own campuses.
Eileene has enjoyed serving on the Gulf Coast Conference on Addiction and Recovery for over 20 years. She also serves on the Association of Recovery in Higher Education, as well as their Blue Ribbon Cabinet.
John M. Conrad, LICSW, is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and a Substance Abuse Professional with more than 25 years of experience as a psychotherapist. He earned his undergraduate degrees in psychology and behavioral science from Athens State College and his master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.
Conrad has extensive experience in marital and family systems, addictive disorders, and general psychiatric disorders. He is trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, family systems theory, and addictive medicine. He has extensive experience in the areas of program development, supervision, and direct client services. Although retired from his position as Asst Clinical Director for Bayview Professional Associates, Conrad remains involved as a supervisor for Social Work licensure, a crisis clinician, and Grandpa for his four year old grandson.
Allison Langan Covington received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Auburn University and then earned a Master of Science degree in Community Counseling from the University of South Alabama. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling (License #1405).
Her professional counseling experience includes working with adolescent and adult populations, in the fields of psychiatric and substance abuse treatment. Her clinical work has been in inpatient/residential, intensive outpatient, and traditional outpatient treatment settings. As a dedicated professional with high ethical standards, she has been committed to her work in advocating for high quality care for adolescents, adults and families affected by the illness of substance abuse.
As a 31-year employee of Parkside Lodge of Mobile and Bradford Health Services, she has held a wide variety of positions, including Primary Counselor, Aftercare Counselor, Family Program Coordinator, Treatment Director, and Clinical Supervisor. As a Community Representative, she had been responsible for marketing, community relations, contract development, and provision of professional development trainings within corporate, educational, judicial, and public arenas. Currently, as the Regional Director of the Mobile and Pensacola offices, she maintains Bradford’s commitment to serving those with substance abuse problems. She is an active member of many local professional organizations, community committees and advisory panels that seek to unite human service agencies to improve patient care. Her experience in prevention, education, and treatment represents many facets of clinical service in the field.
Ms. Covington resides in Mobile with her husband of 29 years. They have three incredible boys; a 23 year old son, and twin 18 year old sons.
Emma Perryman received her BA degree in French and English and her MS degree in Agency Counseling from the University of South Alabama. Emma also received a Certificate of Achievement from Leadership Mobile, Class of 1990. Emma has earned number of Addictions Professional Certificates - chief among them is an Internationally Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional Diplomat (CCDP-D) Certification. During her working career of 35 years, Emma was instrumental in writing and receiving a grant in 1986 to start the only day treatment program for women and their children in Mobile county. In 1992, Emma assisted the start-up and development of the Mobile County Drug Court Program under the umbrella of Franklin Primary Health Center. Also in 1992, Emma was instrumental in saving the drug prevention program of a local community health center by bringing it up to the standards required by the Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse Services Division.
In 2000, Emma assisted in helping the Homeless Coalition to save treatment dollars to treat substance abusing women. In 2001, Emma was employed by the Home of Grace for women to help develop a quality assurance program. Chief among her accomplishments is the opening of Emma’s Harvest Home. Armed with faith, courage, determination and passion, Emma, with the help of the Mobile Community, opened EHH in April of 2001. In 2006, Emma’s Harvest Home became the first in the state to become a residential Co-occurring disorder treatment facility.
Emma is involved in many community activities including: Board member of the Drug Education Council, Inc., Advisory member of the Salvation Army for Women & Children, Steering committee member for Gulf Coast Conference on Addiction and Recovery, Mobile AIDS Coalition, Statewide HIV/AIDS Prevention Council and a number of others. Nationally, she serves on the Office of Women’s Health HIV Prevention Strategies Workgroup under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Emma is a speaker and facilitator of educational workshops on addiction and related issues. She is a faithful member of Rock of Faith Missionary Baptist Church, where she serves in many leadership positions such as Superintendent of Sunday School and other positions as well. Her hobbies include reading, scrabble, traveling, teaching and shopping.
Ashley is the Founder and Owner of Professional Counseling Associates. She is a Christian Counselor who acknowledges that most addictions are based on a person’s attempt to try to fill the void that God created for communication with Him. She has been in practice and helping people with addictions for more than 17 years. She fought and overcame addiction and alcoholism herself, giving her a ready ear and understanding heart to others struggling with addictive habits.
Ashley has been instrumental in the development of chemical dependency treatment programs at The Shoulder Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, The Harbor Behavioral Healthcare at Thomas Hospital, and at The Home of Grace for Women – all in Baldwin County, Alabama.
In April, 2006, she became an Advanced Certified Relapse Prevention Specialist (ACRPS) by completing training with Terence Gorski, an internationally recognized expert and author in the field of addiction. Ashley also is qualified by the Department of Transportation (DOT) as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP).
Ashley graduated from the University of Mobile with a Master of Art Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. Her knowledge and experience in treating Systemic Family Issues is why she specializes in Marriage/Family Counseling and Addictive Disorders.
Ashley is skilled in the treatment of addiction and related disorders. She has experience in evaluating and treating a wide range of mental health issues, some of which include: AD/HD in children and adults, Bipolar, Trauma-related disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression and Anxiety.
Ashleigh Simon is married with two children and lives in Daphne, Alabama. She is a graduate of the Community Counseling Masters Program at the University of South Alabama. She currently holds licenses as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Counseling Supervisor (LPC-S), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Clinical Supervisor (ACS) and Certified Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Abuse Professional (CAADP).
Ashleigh is currently the Clinical Director at The Bridge, which is a non-profit organization that serves adolescents throughout the state of Alabama. Since 2004, Ashleigh has developed vital new programming, reinvented the clinical culture and has increased the programming at The Bridge. Ashleigh is also an Associate Trainer with The Change Companies. She provides training nationwide on ASAM criteria and Interactive Journaling. Her employment history extends back to the late 90’s where she provided therapy for teens in the housing projects in Mobile County through the Strengthening Neighborhood Investment Project (SNIP) with Catholic Social Services. Prior to that she worked at The Shoulder providing therapy for adult men and women struggling with addiction.
Angela Gray is an Outreach Coordinator with the Outreach Program at Pine Grove Behavioral Health & Addiction. Gray earned her undergraduate degree in Dance Education and Paralegal Studies from The University of Southern Mississippi. She received her Master’s degree in General Psychology from Pace University, NY, NY, and a Master’s degree in Counseling/Psychology from The University of West Alabama in Livingston, AL. Gray is a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor and is currently working to obtain her counseling licensure in the State of Alabama and Mississippi. She has experience working with the HIV/AIDS population in a Ryan White Clinic where she provided psychosocial evaluations, counseling, and case management services. Gray has clinical counseling experience in chemical dependency with The Shoulder, a residential addiction treatment center in Spanish Fort, AL, where she worked as a Residential Coordinator.
Greg Snodgrass is a person in long-term recovery. He is involved in 12-step programs and sponsors men in recovery. Service is important in his career and personal life. Being of service to others is essential in his recovery. Greg spends his free time with his wife and daughter traveling to horse shows across the southeast with their thoroughbreds Harley and Pickles.
Most recently, Greg took the position as Collegiate Recovery Liaison and Regional Outreach Coordinator at Cumberland Heights Treatment Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He began that position in September of 2018.
Greg worked as a sober companion for Rick Parrish and Jamie Eater at Sober Escorts Inc. and John West of The Guest House in Ocala, Florida.
Greg Snodgrass was the National Director of Corporate Relations and Sponsorship for the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE). Greg oversaw the fundraising, donor relations, and organizational growth for the association.
Before transitioning to ARHE, Greg was tasked with the five-year design and implementation of the Collegiate Recovery at the University of Alabama as Director of their program. He was the point of contact for member schools implementing programs in the southeast region. Over the past 14 years, Greg has been committed to helping the Collegiate Recovery field.
Fourteen years prior to working in the addiction and recovery field, Greg was Purchasing Director for a contract manufacturing company. Greg Snodgrass transitioned professional fields when he personally entered long-term recovery. He received a scholarship to return to higher education at the Collegiate Recovery at Texas Tech University. He worked with children that had addiction in their family at Big Brothers Big Sisters while pursuing a Masters Degree in Social Work from Texas State University.
Gail is a 1986 Honors graduate of the University of South Alabama, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology. After graduating, she worked for a number of years at Parkside Medical Services as an Addictions Counselor in the adolescent residential program. After leaving Parkside, she served as a Substance Abuse Crisis Intervention Specialist for the Drug-Free Schools Program of the Mobile County Public School System, where she worked with high-risk youth and their families. It was during this time that she began to see the need for prevention and education programs that empower people to live healthy, drug-free lives. As a result, she began working at the DEC in 1996 and currently serves as the Director of Clinical Services and Administrator of Continuing Education Programs. Her professional certifications include Certified Prevention Manager (CPM) and Internationally Certified Prevention Specialist (ICPS). Gail is an avid reader and enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Catherine Drake has led an impressive career as an event planner working in the hospitality, hospital and educational fields.
Serving as the manager for the Gulf Coast Conference on Addiction and Recovery with the Drug Education Council, Inc., she brings her attention to detail and organizational skills.
Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Catherine graduated from the University of South Alabama with a BA degree in Sociology. After working for several years with the Alabama Dept. of Pensions and Security as a social worker, she decided to travel.
She spent three summer seasons at Yellowstone National Park and 14 years in Kona, Hawaii in the hospitality industry working at most levels in a professional hotel kitchen. She received her Certificate of Completion in the Culinary Arts from the University of Hawaii-Hilo West campus.
Prior to her current role with the Drug Education Council, Catherine worked as a Continuing Education Specialist with the University of South Alabama and Director of Volunteer Services at Providence Hospital.