More information coming soon.

Overview: 

This panel discussion will explore the critical role second chance employers play in supporting individuals in recovery through meaningful employment opportunities. By bringing together voices from business, recovery, and lived experience, the panel will examine the challenges and opportunities involved in hiring people who are rebuilding their lives after addiction.  The goal of the panel is to inspire and equip employers, service providers, and community leaders to embrace inclusive hiring practices and become active participants in building recovery-ready workplaces.

Objectives:

1. Learn the Importance of Employment in Recovery:  Panelists will emphasize how stable, dignified work supports sustained recovery and reintegration into society.
2. Define “Second Chance Employers”:  Panelists will clarify what it means to be a second chance employer and the role they play in the recovery ecosystem.
3. Share Lived Experiences: Provide real-life testimonials from individuals in recovery and employers to humanize the impact of second chance hiring.
4. Identify Key Challenges for Employers: Explore barriers such as stigma, legal constraints, insurance issues, and internal policy concerns that businesses may face. 
5. Discuss Employer Opportunities and Benefits:  Highlight potential advantages, such as improved retention, access to untapped talent, and community goodwill.

Matt Brown is a seasoned healthcare executive with 24 years of leadership and management experience, specializing in integrated behavioral health, addiction treatment and recovery, and healthcare administration and operations. His career has been defined by his ability to build and scale integrated healthcare systems, communicate both internally and externally, drive financial sustainability, and advocate for innovative approaches to addiction treatment and mental health services.

Beyond his healthcare career, Matt is deeply committed to helping others overcome addiction and live a life of recovery and purpose. His personal journey of entering recovery in May 2014 after an 18-year battle with substance use disorder fuels his passion for helping others live a purpose-driven life. He is the Founder and Board Chair of Rise Above, a nonprofit dedicated to meeting community needs and supporting individuals in their recovery journey, and the Founder of The Table Christian Church, a faith-driven community focused on compassion, outreach, and service. Matt also owns two sober living homes (The Winner’s Circle and Woodland Circle) that give men and women a safe and sober place to take the next steps in their recovery journeys. Lastly, through Elk Creek Health and Wellness, LLC and Salus Solutions, LLC, Matt consults with healthcare companies to improve operational performance, quality of care, compliance, management and leadership infrastructure, growth strategy, and practice management.

Early in his career as the General Manager of the Hard Rock Café in Dallas, Rob saw firsthand how to build a world class restaurant, brand and management team.  As the General Manager of the Orlando Hard Rock he led the team to achieve annual sales of over $42 million.  Rob’s successful track record led him to the position of Director of New Openings for Hard Rock International.  Rob was charged with project management, city government liaison and negotiating leases.  He opened restaurants in Miami, Nashville, Myrtle Beach and San Antonio achieving rave reviews. During his 9 years at Hard Rock Café, Rob helped the company increase from 3 restaurants to over 30.

In 1995 The Walt Disney Company acquired ESPN.  Disney’s goal was to leverage the ESPN brand.   Rob was lured to Southern California for this challenge.  Rob was an integral part of the development and creation of the ESPN ZONE.  Rob developed every aspect of training, development, culinary, operations, policies and procedures that formed the foundation of this new and exciting restaurant experience.  After the first ESPN ZONE opened in Baltimore, Rob led the operations team to successful openings in Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Anaheim, Las Vegas and Denver.  Rob grew the ESPN ZONE into a $100 million + business and was recognized by the National Restaurant Association for the prestigious “Hot Concept Award” in 2001.

Rob has dedicated 5 years to acquiring an in depth knowledge of the franchise restaurant business.  Rob’s passion for the restaurant business led him to New Orleans to take over the reigns as Vice President of Operations for Copeland’s Restaurants, overseeing 48 restaurants with sales in excess of $160 million.  Rob established a new restaurant opening process which improved profitability 150% in the first 90 days of operation.  After mastering the franchisor role, Rob became a senior operator with one of the Nation’s most successful Applebee’s franchisees located in Lexington, Kentucky.  Rob successfully established plans to improve profit, led strategic planning and implementation of training and established a comprehensive development program to address diversity.

Rob’s strengths are founded in his creativity and his ability to lead and direct teams, while focusing on systems that deliver profitability. His expertise is broad and covers all aspects of restaurant operations.  This includes menu development, purchasing, management of food quality, service, labor, atmosphere, and cost.  In addition, Rob has successfully opened restaurants throughout the country and has built vendor and business relationships in complex, high volume, multi-level operations.   

In 2008, Rob, along with his wife Diane created, developed and operate Saul Good Restaurant & Pub in Lexington KY.  Rob has seen first-hand how to build restaurant brands and how prevalent addiction is in the industry he loves. Rob & Diane founded Dv8 Kitchen as a social enterprise focused on giving second chance employment opportunities to people in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. Dv8 Kitchen focuses on providing top-quality food, service and atmosphere for every guest. By providing “a better-than-expected” dining experience, the hope is to build a new standard for the second chance employee to live by and to change the way the guests perceive people in addiction recovery.

Adam Larkin, originally from Saratoga Springs, NY, is the co-founder and CEO of GITT Apparel, a globally recognized brand rooted in purpose and recovery, now sold in 41 states and across three continents. A Kentucky Colonel, influencer, and inspirational motivational speaker, Adam has been featured on Times Square billboards and in major media across CA, NY, and KY. He serves as Chief Marketing Officer for New Hope Counseling Recovery and works as a social media consultant, promoting a healthy lifestyle—mentally, physically, and spiritually. Adam currently holds a BA in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Marketing from Northern Kentucky University and begins both his MBA program and his autobiography in the fall, continuing his mission to inspire through sobriety, leadership, and faith-driven entrepreneurship.

Mason King is the Chief Executive Officer of Jubilee Jobs, a workforce development nonprofit committed to helping those facing barriers to employment with finding, obtaining, and maintaining quality, dignifying jobs. Mason has been pivotal in steering innovative community projects and workforce development initiatives. Mason has dedicated his career to public and non-profit service, focusing on community development and supporting vulnerable populations. Educated at the University of Kentucky, Mason excelled academically, earning accolades such as the Todd L. Daughtery Award for his unique contributions to the Political Sciences. Additionally, Mason obtained his MBA from the University of South Carolina, Aiken School of Business. His career includes nearly a decade at Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, where he played various essential roles helping further the mission of equal legal access for all Kentuckians. Mason’s global perspective is enriched by international experiences, including time spent in South America focused on public diplomacy and community service projects. As the CEO of Jubilee Jobs, Mason has spearheaded significant projects like the Second Chance Academy, an LFUCG Mayor’s Office initiative providing re-entry support and education to those leaving the Fayette County Detention Center, and resource connection programming, emphasizing his commitment to creating robust support systems for those seeking employment and re-entry into society. These initiatives underscore Mason’s vision and operational agility in aligning resources, stakeholders, and opportunities to foster community development and empower individuals toward sustainable success and dignity.