Meet the Staff, Board, and Our Partners

                  C-PRSS, Recovery Coach and Veteran Ambassador

William, a Vietnam Veteran & a Recovering alcoholic, came to OCARTA at first as a participant and then soon started to volunteer his time, helping anywhere and any way he could. Not long after his volunteering began he was presented with an opportunity to work more closely with the V.A.; William has gone through the V.A.’s mentorship training program and now also mentors Veterans at the V.A. Medical Center using his personal Recovery/Survival story to help empower and advocate for others who are trying to get into Recovery themselves. William is now a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist and a Recovery Coach here at OCARTA. He is a gentleman in long-term Recovery and because of that Recovery, he enjoys time spent with his large and loving family consisting of his children and his grandchildren. He is grateful to be able to be a loving Father and Grandfather.  

Phone: 866-848-7555

Email: william@ocarta.org

Veterans Ambassador

C-PRSS, Person in long-term recovery

I started my recovery journey at TRC on June 8th, 2020.

I grew up in a small town in Southeastern Oklahoma. I was raised by my grandparents. I started getting into trouble at the age of 18, due to peer pressure and just wanting to be apart of something. I was given an ultimatum to join the military or become homeless. I decided to join the Navy. I took my alcoholism and drug use with me to boot camp. 3 Captain masses later I was discharged with general under honorable conditions after 3 alcohol related events. For the next 20 years I kept living a dysfunctional lifestyle. Living in my full blown addiction. I ended up back in jail and got a visit from DHS and they wanted to do an investigation. I knew at that moment I needed help-my children needed their father. 

I soon found and went through the OCARTA recovery housing program, PRSS training, and started working in the recovery field. Even after leaving OCARTA they helped me with reunification. I have been living successfully in recovery and I get to be the father I was intended to be. Getting my son back in my life has been my greatest accomplishment. I’ve even had contact with my daughter as well. Things have happened in my life I never thought possible. I can use my experiences and give hope back to others. I am living proof that recovery is possible no matter where you start or how far you’ve gone.

veterans@ocarta.org

405-803-2617

C-PRSS, CMI, Mentor & Peer Supervisor

I am 34 yrs old with two daughters Ryleigh and Harper, and they are the light of my world, and I am very blessed to even be given an opportunity to be a Mama to. I was in active addiction off and on for 14 years and due to the severity of my addiction and revolving door with DHS, I relinquished rights to my two older children in 2016, a daughter born in 2011, and a son born in 2015. That was my rock bottom and five months later I went to Oklahoma County for the last time and knew that I was done using, that was it, and I was the problem. I have been in the recovery field since August 2019 and during that time I have obtained my PRSS and Case Management certifications. Helping others who struggle with addiction or mental health is what helps keep me motivated and grounded. Since coming to Ocarta, I have found my purpose, I have felt my passion ignite and I absolutely love what we do. Words cannot begin to describe the feeling I get from helping someone, seeing the light start to come back in their eyes, and watching the transformation. I get to mentor women, work with youth in our HUGS program, participate in Outreach and work with individuals involved in the criminal justice system. I knew I had to break the cycle and give my girls a better life than the one I lived. I am giving hope to those who have none, who feel they are unworthy, who feel they’ve done too much and it’s too late. It is NEVER too late to make the change and become the best version of you and we are here to help. I am proof that even the most hopeless can find recovery.

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional… choose wisely, tomorrow is not guaranteed.

“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.” – Bob Marley

Phone: 405-551-0777

Email: peersupervisor@ocarta.org

Recovery Coach, Mentor, and Youth Ambassador

“If mental health awareness was a priority for everyone we would live in a utopia.”

Tyler is a proud Okie, born and raised on the North side of Oklahoma City. He attended John Marshall High School and started at SNU. He loves old movies, sushi, and basketball. He is also successfully living with Paranoid Schizophrenia, type II Bipolar disorder, and clinical depression. Thanks to the right medication & therapy his life has changed tremendously, all for the better. Helping those struggling with mental illness is his passion. Tyler is a strong advocate for mental health reform and is very eager to be of service! Boomer Sooner! Thunder Up!

Phone: 405-436-7366

Email: tyler@ocarta.org

Executive Director, Trainer, and DEI Ambassador

Brandi Vore is a 38 y/o person in long-term recovery, who has her bachelor’s degree in Operations Management. She has two children and is married to her best friend and love of her life, David. She has worked in the substance use and mental health field for over ten years and has held several positions throughout that time. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist with specialized tracks in Supervision, Youth, Veterans, and Elderly Assistance.  Finally, she is a Certified Strengthening Families Facilitator and Trainer as well as a Job Club coach and trainer for Mental Health First Aid-Youth and Adult.

~”The war inside can not be fought alone.”-Brandi Vore, 2020

Phone: 405-436-4083

Email: brandi@ocarta.org

“We do recover and I’m living proof.”

My name is Shane and I am 49 y/o and I have 2 sons, Dameyune and Christian and a grand daughter named Scout. I grew up in the heart of OKC on the southside. I come from a dysfunctional family; my mom and dad both had substance use disorders and divorced when I was young. After that I was sent back and forth from one parent to the other. I never really felt love, I felt like a burden and I would rebel against my family and the world. I starting using at 12 y/o an hated myself so much I would intentionally try to overdosed to end my life.  I wasn’t an honest person either. I’m not proud of the harm I caused, I’m remorseful. I was further down my path in addiction and I was facing a non-violent offense for 20 years and knew I was in the wrong, I needed help and went to the Crisis Center I got on medication and saw a poster for OCARTA.  I decided to turn my life around and start new. I attended classes and started working part-time at OCARTA to better myself and have a shot at recovery. I still had to face my sentence of 20 years and it took me 6 years and 10 months to be released. All the while OCARTA told me if I stayed the course they would hire me back when I got out. I got out and got my drivers license back and worked jobs to get a car. Then I came to OCARTA and started back. I buckled down and went through the training and have received my C-PRSS. As a mentor I get to help others and my life is so fulfilling today. I owe it all to God, my 12-step program, and OCARTA for my recovery.

shanel@ocarta.org

C-PRSS, Mentor, and Volunteer Coordinator

My name is Laycee Williams, I am 32 years old. I am a natural-born Aries. I have two sons; Caydon is fifteen and Kyzer is seven. I grew up in a small town, my father was the chief of police. I had two amazing, loving parents. My parents got a divorce when I was ten. I moved to Duncan Oklahoma with my mom. After a long journey of poor decision-making and wearing handcuffs, I surrendered. In March 2021, I entered the ReMerge program and upon completion, my aggravated trafficking would allow a dismissal. I began working on myself and putting one foot in front of the other. I started digging deep within myself. Starting to learn who I was. I realized helping other people who struggle with addiction, mental illness, and other things like the things I have been through where my passion and what keeps me sane. Being able to give hope to others is the best feeling in the world. Being able to empower women, and inspire others has been my biggest blessing. My values and morals have changed so much with my growth in recovery. I am making a difference in breaking the cycle of addiction in my family. I am giving hope to others who are living a lifestyle I once knew so well. I now have a successful life worth living and can give hope to others. I am living proof RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE!

Phone: 866-848-7555

Email: laycee@ocarta.org

Director of Operations, Case Manager II, and Family Care Coordinator

Veronica Woods has a double bachelor’s degree in Forensic Psychology. She is beginning her journey at the University of Central Oklahoma to get receive her master’s degree in Addictions Counseling. Her goal is to become a LADC to start offering more services for OCARTA. She has been apart of OCARTA since it first opened its doors but has been full time since July of 2021. She has a passion for this type of work because she was raised in 12-step rooms and believes everyone deserves help whether it is from any addiction, substance use or mental health. She is the Family Care Coordinator for the SAFER Initiative, does financials, helps people get their life back that they may have lost, and is the right hand of the executive director and office manager. 

Phone:405-719-1501

Email: veronica@ocarta.org