Board of Directors
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Voices of Recovery San Mateo County (VORSMC) Board of Directors are resourceful, energetic individuals passionate about our mission of embracing and promoting recovery.
The Board of Directors are responsible for the organization’s financial well-being and accountability, ensuring that our activities align with our mission. Voices Board of Directors are expected to promote the organization and assist with fundraising efforts. The board meets virtually once a month and occasionally in person.
President
Janice Fernandez
Janice Fernandez is a woman with lived experience and has been in long-term recovery since her sobriety birthday on February 13, 2013. An alumnus of VORSMC, Janice served as a Recovery Coach, WRAP Co-Facilitator, and Peer Mentor for the Hope (Helping Our Peers Emerge) Program during her time there. Janice has seven years of experience in the behavioral health system supporting peers in early recovery. Currently employed with San Mateo County Behavioral Health (BHRS) as a Peer Support Worker II for the Healthcare for the Homeless program on the Crisis and Response Team (CRT).
Treasurer
Rob Lajoie
Now retired, Rob Lajoie spent the first 30 years of his career in the financial services sector at four local credit unions, overseeing both operations and lending programs. For the final 10 years of his career, Rob oversaw the financial education and programs area at a local nonprofit, serving low-income individuals and families in San Mateo County. Rob joins the Voices of Recovery Board of Directors with a desire to give back by supporting the amazing substance use services offered by VORSMC.
Secretary
Danny Hayes
Danny Hays is a United States Navy veteran who currently serves as the Outreach Coordinator for Street Life Ministries. He is also part of the Redwood City Outreach Strategies collaborative in Redwood City. In the evenings, Danny volunteers as a Site Captain for the ministry, where he helps feed the unhoused.
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Danny serves as the Chair for the Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) of San Mateo County and as a committee member for the Continuum of Care (COC). With extensive knowledge of addiction and recovery services gained through both lived experience and years in the field, Danny is deeply passionate about his work with the unhoused population.
Member
Cassandra Wilson
Cassandra Wilson, retired with over fourteen years of experience as a community caseworker with the City of Daly City Service Center and as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with the Women’s Recovery Association (WRA). At WRA, she developed the Life Skills group, which was later added to their program curriculum.
During past Recovery Happens months, Cassandra served as the Master of Ceremonies at the Breakfast “kick-off” and led the march to the courthouse to receive the Proclamation from the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. She is also part of the Soul Stroll’s yearly event “warm-up” exercise team.
In 2020, Cassandra was honored with the Steve Kaplan Award by Voices of Recovery of San Mateo County for her extraordinary commitment and contributions to the community and individuals recovering from substance use and mental health challenges.
Her passion for service led her to pursue higher education. Cassandra loves seeing individuals thrive through goal-setting and lifestyle changes, and she enjoys being of service at her church. She holds several degrees and credentials in human services and recently celebrated twenty-three years of continuous recovery from substance use.
Member
Melissa Greenfield
Ms. Melissa Greenfield: is a woman in long term recovery. She started her career here at Voices of Recovery as a Recovery Coach, Peer Supporter, and Advanced Level WRAP Facilitator. As a Registered Alcohol and Drug Therapist, Melissa is now a Supervisor Care Coordinator at HR360.
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"Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it and to work for it and to fight for it" Barack Obama
Sobriety birthday August 8th, 2014
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Member
Marika Buchholz
Marika Buchholz joins the Voices of Recovery Board of Directors out of a desire to support substance use services that are dignified and equitable for all who wish to access them. Marika is currently a San Mateo County employee with the Center on Homelessness and was previously a program director and case manager at LifeMoves, where she oversaw homeless outreach programs aimed at meeting the needs of people living in encampments, vehicles, and the street. Marika believes in building alliances across sectors and learning from those with lived experience.
Member
Twila Cole Dependahl
Twila Cole Dependahl joins the VORSMC board with a passion for making a difference in the lives of residents and their families impacted by recovery. She brings extensive leadership, fiscal management, and administrative experience to the role.
Twila’s current volunteer roles include serving as a Commissioner on Aging, a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor for both Adult and Older Adult curricula, and a fund developer and grant writer for Mental Health First Aid community trainings. After a 32-year career at Franklin Templeton Investments, Twila discovered her affinity for the unique challenges facing older adults. She has since served as a Senior Peer Counselor, Long Term Care Ombudsman, and Volunteer Coordinator, training volunteers to become ombudsmen. Her most recent paid position was as the Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator at the BHRS Office of Diversity & Equity.