Robert has been working in the financial services industry for over 20 years and previously worked in the entertainment industry. He co-founded Awakening Recovery in 2016 with David Van Der Velde and serves as the President of the Board at Awakening Recovery.
Board Secretary
KEN MARIASH, JR.
Ken has nearly 20 years’ experience in marketing, leading, and growing new businesses and is currently the VP of Marketing at EBT Medical, and serves as the Secretary of the Board at Awakening Recovery.
Development Chair
JONATHON AUBRY
Jonathon is a marketing, entertainment and fundraising leader with 20+ years of business development, fundraising, marketing and brand partnership experience, and runs his own strategic advisory firm, AUBRY & CO. He also serves as the Development Chair of the Board at Awakening Recovery.
Executive Director
DAVID VAN DER VELDE
After spending 25 years producing large-scale corporate events for the sports, entertainment and nonprofit sectors, David co-founded Awakening Recovery in 2016 with Robert Daly, Jr., and serves as the Executive Director and board member of Awakening Recovery.
Austin is a graduate of Awakening Recovery, who was in the house during the first month it was open. He now has over four years sober. This unique perspective is an important additional voice on the board. After graduating from the house, Austin went back to school to finish college, graduated with a bachelor degree and is pursuing a career in marketing and data science.
Alumnus Parent
CLAUDINE ANDREWS
Claudine has over 20 years experience in the entertainment industry, with a focus on music and film productions, and is also the mother of our graduate Patrick who now has over 2 years sober. Both of these perspectives are vital to our organization on a Board level, especially as we expand our scope to include a women’s house.
Member
JODY WEINBERG
Jody is the Vice President, Business Affairs & Legal Counsel for Pixar Animation Studios, where she has worked for over 25 years. She serves as a board member at Awakening Recovery.
Member
KELLY WU
Kelly has nearly 10 years of experience working in the treatment industry. Motivated by her own experience with recovery, she has pursued multiple clinical positions throughout her career, currently she is a practicing Social Worker and the Executive Director at Grace Recovery.
Emeritus Founding Board Member
JIM MURPHY
Jim has over 20 years of finance leadership experience and is the Chief Operating Officer of See Tickets North America, and serves as the Treasurer of the Board at Awakening Recovery.
Emeritus Founding Board Member
BILL RESNICK
Non-Profit Board and Executive leadership experience Psychiatrist, with experience in the field of Addiction Philanthropy and Foundation leadership experience.
Sentinel
Help fund resident activities for one year
$2,500
Guardian
Help fund resident-prepared meals for one month
$1,500
Warrior
Help fund house supplies for one month
$1,000
Awakening
Fund random weekly drug and alcohol testing for two months
$500
Courage
Help fund resident activities for one month
$250
Faith
Fund a resident activity for one month
$100
Hope
Fund resident meals for one day
$50
Strength
Fund video meeting capability in the house for one month
David Van Der Velde
Executive Director & Co-Founder
David got clean and sober in 1988 at the age of 19, close to death from his own struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism. Now 32+ years clean and sober, he has been consistently active in his recovery community by mentoring others, serves on recovery and youth related non-profit Boards such as LifeWorks and the West Hollywood Recovery Center, and serves on panels at institutions speaking from his own experience about recovery.
In 2015, David chose to transition from a 25-year career in producing large-scale corporate events for the sports, entertainment and non-profit sectors, to co-founding Awakening Recovery as its Executive Director and Board member, helping those looking for a long-term recovery solution regardless of access to funds. Additionally, David has successfully completed his Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling from UCLA. He now devotes his personal and professional life to helping people find a long-term recovery solution from drug addiction and alcoholism through the life-saving work at Awakening Recovery and in his recovery community at large.
Joelene Knight, CADC-CAS
Joelene Knight, is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Grace Recovery, a sub-acute and residential treatment program located in Hollywood, California, as well as a Board Member at Awakening Recovery, a unique life-saving nonprofit that specializes in recovery homes with a long-term, 12-Step addiction solution that creates a lasting change in core beliefs and behaviors.
Joelene is trained as a Certified Addiction Counselor and received her CADAC from UCLA in 2001. With 30-years of experience in the behavioral health, addiction, and recovery field, Joelene began her career in 1991 as a Community Outreach Specialist, providing counseling to high-risk youth, adolescents and their families. Joelene’s experience has spanned from delivering HIV prevention, education, and testing to individuals impacted by substance use disorders, to providing clinical expertise, insight, and programming as a Director and Clinical Advisor for multiple treatment programs in Southern California. She volunteered for the City of Los Angeles as a Crisis Response Team member, where she acted as a liaison for members of the city who were tragically impacted by homicide, suicide, and unforeseen deaths.
Joelene’s genuine and empathic nature is the foundation of her drive and service, which led her to build a continuum of care based on her expertise. In 2018, Joelene branded and opened Grace Recovery with her longtime friend and colleague. Grace Recovery is the culmination of years of experience, passion, purpose, and expertise. The foundation of Joelene’s unwavering commitment to providing ethical treatment to those in need is a testament to her past and current roles, as advocate, educator, clinical leader, crisis management, and behavior and addiction specialist.