Sync Recovery Community:
Building a Bright Future Together

Sync Recovery Community is on an exciting path toward growth and innovation, fueled by our dedication to empowering individuals on their recovery journeys. Here’s a glimpse into our plans for the future:

  • Expanding Resources: We’re actively pursuing grants, government funding, and personal giving campaigns to strengthen our programs and extend support to even more individuals. These investments will help us expand services and reach underserved areas.
  • Regional Growth: Sync Recovery aims to bring its life-changing programs to new communities. By broadening our footprint, we can ensure that recovery support is accessible to more people across the region.
  • Volunteer Development: Volunteers are the heart of our mission. We’re enhancing training and engagement opportunities to empower our dedicated team and attract new, passionate individuals to join our cause.
  • Strengthening Collaboration: By forging partnerships with other organizations and stakeholders, we’ll create a robust network of recovery resources, fostering innovation and shared success.
  • Modernizing Technology: Embracing updated technologies will allow us to improve communication, streamline operations, and enhance program delivery, ensuring we remain at the forefront of recovery support.

Sync Recovery’s future is bright because of the passion and dedication of our community. Together, we’re creating an inclusive and sustainable network where recovery thrives.

Let’s grow together—
join us on this journey!

How would you like to be a part of our efforts?

There are primarily three ways can help Sync Recovery continue to grow and serve our community:

  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Corporate Sponsorship
  • Financial Support

Your support can help us do more, reach more, and serve better. Let’s talk about how you can be part of that. We’ll be ready when you call.

(610) 651-0707

Sync Recovery places great value on people power. Volunteers bring their unique gifts and experience both behind the scenes and by offering direct peer support to participants. You can get involved with several committees or help by leading events and spreading the word, or you can ask about joining our Board of Directors.

Service Committees
Board Members

Sync Recovery is on a mission to help change the stigma of recovery and help individuals in our community live a recovery lifestyle. Corporate support helps build a stronger workforce. Corporate Sponsors help us provide more substantial programming and make a more significant impact each year. Join us to change the stigma of recovery, improve the workforce and save lives.

As with many non-profit organizations, Sync Recovery depends on the generosity of our community. Your gift helps us reach more people and expand the locations we can offer our peer support services. Thank you in advance as you witness the impact and integrity of our work.

Make a Gift

Meet just a few of our volunteers

Read about how they became involved with Sync Recovery and why they are committed to helping us continue to grow.

Lina Barbieri

Board Member
About Me

Heather Barna-Dowling

Peer Support Coordinator and Training
About Me

Tara Calderbank

Board Member
About Me

Cathy Campanaro

Administration
About Me

Alixx Cook

Volunteer Development
About Me

Monica Flick

Volunteer
About Me

Scott Fritzinger

Communications
About Me

John R. Gailey, III

Board Director
About Me

Doreen Gehret

Events Committee
About Me

Tim Hunter

Board Member
About Me

Lori K.

Retreat Leader
About Me

Meg Lewis

Board Member
About Me

Abigail Weiss

Board Member
About Me

Robert White

Event Planning
About Me
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lina barbieri

Lina serves as Chief Philanthropy Officer at Miller-Keystone Blood Center, where her primary responsibility is generating philanthropic giving to support the work of the region’s community blood center. Previously, she served as Associate Vice President of Annual Giving at DeSales University. Her career spans over three decades in higher education, having served as a communications officer at several regional universities before establishing a successful communications business.

Lina earned her communication degree from DeSales University and holds the Certified Fundraising Executive CFRE accreditation. She is part of the Think Courageously leadership community and was named a Woman of Influence in 2021 by Lehigh Valley Business.

She has served on the board of the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and on working committees for Catholic Charities of Allentown and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. She has served as a school board member of St. Thomas More Parish, where she and her family are parishioners.

Currently, she serves as a board member of both the Catholic Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania and the Sync Recovery Foundation, an organization that supports people in active recovery from substance use disorders.

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heather Barna-Dowling

I became a sync volunteer after playing disc golf with Per. We were discussing Sync, and I said I would love to get involved. Events came up, such as the clearing at camp, To-Hi, and the training to guide hikes, and I took advantage of the opportunity so that I could offer Sync to my local friends in recovery.

I love this organization and what it stands for, mostly because in my own personal recovery, it has been vital for me not only to abstain, but also to balance that abstinence with a healthy activity and to be of service by showing others that there’s always another way. Sync invites us to try new things gently and includes our families… my youngest son especially enjoys being a part of our Sync family and benefits from being a part of it.

I currently guide hikes and lead yoga in Carbon County, and I look forward to sharing more adventures with friends in recovery. I am beyond grateful to be a part of the Sync family.

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Tara Calderbank

Tara Calderbank, CRS, CFRS, CRSS, is the Recovery Support Services program manager for the NIH-funded Whole Health Research Study at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. In this role, she provides program oversight and leads a team of Certified Recovery Specialists in Philadelphia and Lancaster Counties. Before joining Penn, Tara worked as the Recovery Support Services Manager for the Montgomery County chapter of The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania/PRO ACT, overseeing a team of professional peers in a community-based program.

Tara is an advocate for promoting high-quality peer recovery services and has co-created education for CRSs working in healthcare settings. She has been actively involved in the development of newly certified Peers and Peer Leaders at an organizational level. Tara is passionate about harm reduction and eliminating disparities that people who use drugs face when accessing healthcare and basic human services. In her free time, Tara enjoys attending live music events and festivals.

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Cathy Campanaro

I was introduced to the Sync Recovery Community in November of 2021. I presented my first drum circle for Sync in December of 2021 and I’ve had the honor of presenting a monthly drum circle for them ever since. Sync’s Four Core Components of Spiritual Principles, Health & Wellness, Service Work and Social Connectedness have been the focus of my drum circles.

After meeting Laura and Per, and the other volunteers at Sync, and becoming a part of the amazing Sync community, I knew that I wanted to do whatever I could to contribute to their success and growth.

I joined the communications committee. I now work with a group of talented individuals who are passionate about delivering the message of Sync Recovery: To end the stigma of addiction and demonstrate that long-term sobriety is not only possible, it is powerful and full of joy!

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Alixx Cook

I got involved with Sync a few years ago as a participant. I fell in love with the organization and became a volunteer in May 2022.

I am now a member of the Event Planning Committee and the Volunteer Development Committee, and I facilitate and co-facilitate recovery adventures.

Sync has added to my life by building my community with people who enjoy having fun in sobriety.

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Monica Flick

I want to start by saying thank you to all the people supporting Sync Recovery and those who dedicate their time and efforts to the recovery community. I have been blessed to be connected to such wonderful people. My journey has no destination, and my commitment to my recovery has to be number one.

I have learned a great deal about alcoholism and its impacts on oneself and the people around you. The whole idea of learning to be happy with yourself again is finding activities and people with whom you can connect and share experiences. Sync has allowed me to enjoy my life in recovery, and for that, I am grateful today.

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Scott Fritzinger

I had joined Laura Waits and some other friends in recovery for some outdoor adventures before the creation of Sync Recovery. Laura and I also collaborated to help another organization establish a men’s recovery house in Allentown.

Early in 2020, as the world was shutting down from the pandemic, Laura reached out to me for help with the Sync Recovery website. As a friend with decades of experience in corporate communications design, I was eager to utilize my skills to support an organization that shared my values and aimed to help others recover from substance use disorder.

Over the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to develop and implement a successful branding strategy for Sync, incorporating all their communications, including both printed and digital materials. I’ve also had the pleasure of leading Sync’s Communications Team and, most recently, joined the newly formed Fundraising Committee. I am grateful for the knowledge that Sync Recovery is doing our Creator’s work by helping our brothers and sisters in recovery discover the wonderful new life that lies ahead for each of us.

The mission, events, and programs of Sync Recovery are very unique. I want to be a part of Sync as we continue to reach more people who have yet to experience the joy that can be found in sharing in the fun and fellowship made possible by Sync Recovery.

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John R. Gailey, III

John was elected a director in 2023. He also serves as Chair of the Board and Chair of the Governance Committee. Before retiring in 2015, John served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. A passionate supporter of recovery from use disorders, he served on the Chester County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council and has been active in several volunteer recovery-support organizations, including Kacie’s Cause and Chester County PRO-ACT.

John is an avid woodworker and a music lover who continues to play the drums. He lives in Malvern with his wife, JoEllen Berger, their two dogs, Cherry and Bella, and their cat, Biscuit. After many years of sobriety, their son Alex died of an overdose in May 2022 at age 29.

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Doreen Gehret

I started by checking into the events hosted by Sync. I love attending the events because I always felt like part of the family. I also loved the diversity of the events that were available. I think my first volunteering event I attended was a cleanup at a campground in Bucks County. It was a hot day and hard work, then a dip in the Creek, and a campfire with a meeting. I got to know more people and started some good friendships!

What has it meant for my recovery?
Sync gives me the tools to learn how to live clean and healthy. It gets me moving, and I am reminded that our body, mind, and spirit are important. I have learned that we ALL need fellowship in a safe non-judgement environment and I find it here at Sync. I learned a lot of new skills. I feel so Blessed when I see Sober people and their families having fun. Where else can we go and know not only is the sober person import, but their spouses, significant other, and children are welcome!

My role with Sync:
Service is very important to my recovery. I completed the training to volunteer, along with the training to lead. And started participating in the Events Committee. I have settled into my niche helping to organize and the Creativity Group with the help of a few other wonderful ladies. In the group we have made a diverse type of crafts. Some examples: Vision boards, Survival Bracelets, Tie dye shirts, Prayer boxes, Dream Catchers, ice cream, and many more.

Come out and join us and see what fun activity we have planned.

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Tim Hunter

Tim Hunter was elected a director in 2023. He also serves as Chair of the Programming and Advocacy Committee. Before retiring in 2019, Tim served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Radian Guaranty Inc., a Philadelphia-based mortgage insurance company. He has also served on other non-profit boards, including CLARIFI and the Committee of 70.

Tim has been in recovery since 2021. He lives in South Philadelphia and is active in the Philadelphia recovery community.

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Lori K.

My name is Lori and I am currently a Sync Volunteer and Retreat Leader. I first learned about Sync through a close friend. She shared intriguing stories of waterfall rappelling, drumming and bonfires with Sync. An avid outdoorswoman myself, I soon joined along for a rock climbing event and met a great group of folks whom I have come to call friends.

I enjoy participating, volunteering, and leading Sync events. It is always a safe space to explore my boundaries, connecting to others through nature and community. Sync Community has provided me social connections with like-minded people. There are countless activities in nature, opportunities for service and spiritual exploration.

Sync has supported my growth as a volunteer and activities leader offering trainings in wilderness first aid and ecotherapy. We have had the exciting opportunity to collaborate on Retreats at my “Treehouse” in the Adirondack Mountains. Working together with Sync and sharing my love of nature with others deepens my understanding of community and service. I currently sit on the Retreat Planning Committee to develop “deep dive” opportunities to explore Sync’s 4 core components; social, spiritual, service and health.

I encourage anyone who may have a glimmer of interest to take a leap of faith and join Sync on this truly rewarding adventure!

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Meg Lewis

Meg Lewis is a registered healthcare professional with over 40 years of experience in direct patient care, management, and education. She is a woman in long-term recovery and became a certified professional recovery coach in 2017 and a certified food addiction coach in 2020. Before being elected to the board of trustees, she served as a volunteer for Sync Recovery and as an online program volunteer and meeting facilitator for Sherecovers. Meg is also an adjunct professor for Northampton Area Community College.

Meg is excited to share her training, skills, passion, and personal experience to assist with the growth of Sync Recovery.

Meg lives in the Lehigh Valley with her husband and rescue greyhound. She’s the proud mother of two grown sons and grandmother to 5 grandchildren. You’ll likely see her walking with her dog if she’s not spending time with the family.

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Abigail Weiss

Abigail Weiss graduated from Moravian University in 2025 with a Bachelor’s of Public Health, where she tailored her education to focus significantly on substance use and harm reduction. She completed an honors-level research study titled “The Psychological Impact of Parental Substance Use on College Students,” allowing her to dive deeper into an understudied topic. She presented her findings at the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction conference and the National Conference of Undergraduate Research.

She currently works at Skylands Family Support, a support coordination agency in NJ serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Here, she works closely with the executive team, ensuring adequate compliance throughout the agency, as well as crafting professional-level agency used checklists and documents.

Abigail also works with the Fight Fentanyl campaign in Monroe County, an organization born from Pennsylvania’s Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative (LETI) program. She is the host of their podcast “A Dose of Reality”, highlighting the experiences of people in recovery, the services available for individuals with substance use disorders, and the ways in which substance use impacts the whole family.

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Robert White

How I got involved with Sync:
I was first introduced to Sync while doing my 90 in 90 on Sunday afternoon at an AA meeting in Dublin, PA. At that meeting, Megan Wagner informed me about a rock-climbing event that Sync was hosting at Tohickon Valley Park the following weekend, so I signed up and attended. I had a fantastic time (as I do with every Sync event), and I knew these were the people, places, and things I wanted to be around.

What has it meant for my recovery?
Sync has played an immense role in my recovery. I needed something more than just going to meetings. Sync has shown me that I can have way more fun, laugh much harder, and do more amazing things sober than I did when I wasn’t! It’s always a great time, no matter what we do!

My role with Sync:
I am an event volunteer, co-facilitator, and attendee. I’m also on the event planning committee and fundraising committee.