Board Members

Don Fertman, Board Chair

Don Fertman is the Chief Development Officer for Franchise World Headquarters, franchisor of Subway, a position he has held since 2010. In this capacity, he oversees all aspects of the franchise development pipeline, from lead generation to restaurant opening. Don has also functioned as Director of Franchise Sales since 1988. Since joining the franchisor in 1981, Don has seen the company grow from 166 restaurants at the time he began his career to over 40,500 units in 103 countries today.

During his tenure at Subway, Don has functioned as the Public Relations manager, publications editor/writer and company photographer before becoming Franchise Sales Manager and later Director, supervising the sale of over 60,000 franchises for several franchise concepts owned by the Franchisor. Prior to his employment at Subway, Don was affiliated with the company through his previous career as a freelance writer and musician, writing and performing jingles promoting Subway sandwiches nationwide. That career also included his participation in a studio project, “How Pop Can You Get” by The Bats, that yielded an album and video which received national attention, including a “recommended” rating in Billboard Magazine and airplay on HBO. Don received a B.S Degree Cum Laude in Communications from the University of New Haven. He has been a member of both the Domestic and Global Strategic Planning Committees and currently serves on the System Advisory Council and Management Committee at Subway World Headquarters.

Don took his last drink on June 6, 1983. He speaks openly about his journey to recovery and was on the CBS TV show “Undercover Boss” twice where he discussed his alcoholism publicly. He also participated in a documentary about the Recovery Movement, “The Anonymous People”, which has been screened around the country. Last year Don made a trip out to Colorado to see the Denver facility and learn more about The Phoenix. He gave a presentation to the Phoenix staff and told his story about the day he made the decision to quit drinking. Don was able to meet most of the Phoenix staff from all three Chapters and was impressed with the work and mission of The Phoenix. He has since joined the Board and is working closely with the Phoenix Team to establish chapters outside of Colorado. He has also founded Recovery Branches (www.recoverybranches.org) to help those struggling with addiction to find avenues to recovery and to assist the organizations that support them in their expansion efforts.

Susan Broderick

As a respected professional in criminal and juvenile justice issues and a woman in long-term recovery, Susan is passionate about helping others in and out of the justice systems. She started her career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where she served from 1989 until 2003. Susan joined the National DA’s Association in 2003 and went on to serve as an Assistant Research Professor at Georgetown from 2008-2018.

Susan’s expertise and wisdom with regard to addiction and the justice systems are unique and multifaceted. She has not only worked on the front lines of the child welfare, juvenile and criminal justice systems, but she spent the last several years studying what works (and what doesn’t), while at Georgetown University. Most importantly, Susan Broderick has lived through these issues and her lived experience gives her unique insight into the issues that many other experts have only studied.

Recognizing the multiple opportunities to address addiction within the child welfare and justice systems, Susan works with jurisdictions to implement innovative prevention and diversion programs, evaluate and refine drug court procedures, enhance the effectiveness of probation protocols and improve outcomes for those leaving the justice system.

Susan’s pragmatic perspective gives her tremendous credibility and allows her to bring a message of hope to anyone in the justice system, no matter where they sit in the courtroom. Given the prevalence of stress and addiction within the legal profession, she works with Bar Associations across the country to address attorney wellness.

Susan serves on the Advisory Board of Harvard University’s Recovery Research Institute and is on the Board of Directors for The Phoenix, a non-profit organization that promotes a sober active lifestyle.

Deni Carise

Deni Carise, Ph.D is co-founder and Chief Science Officer of RECOVERY CENTERS OF AMERICA (RCA). Since 2016 RCA has opened 7 in-network behavioral health treatment campuses providing outpatient, residential, detoxification, MAT, psychiatric, and family services.  Dr Carise previously served as Deputy Chief Clinical Officer of CRC HEALTH GROUP and Chief Clinical Officer at PHOENIX HOUSE.  She was Director of the Treatment Systems Section at TREATMENT RESEARCH INSTITUTE for 16 years (1994 to 2010), she received numerous NIH, ONDCP, and other federal grants.  She has published over 100 articles, books, and chapters. Dr Carise is an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at the UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, PERELMAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (since 1997) and was an NIH-funded researcher for 16 years with over 100 published articles, books, and chapters.  She has worked extensively internationally, with treatment providers in numerous countries including Nigeria, Mexico, Thailand, Egypt, Greece, Singapore and Brazil. Dedicated to the accurate portrayal of Addiction, Treatment and Recovery in Film, TV and radio, Dr Carise has also consulted on films such as on Martin Scorese’s, Wolf of Wall Street, Sno Babies, and has been featured in segments of Nightline, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, CBS and NBS evening news, and others. Dr Carise has been part of the recovery community for over 35 years.

Mark Gaylord

Mark is the founder of The Gaylord Group, a Personal Financial Specialist firm in Denver specializing in various areas of financial planning, including retirement planning, education funding, estate planning, insurance services, wealth management and business brokerage. He holds a Business and Finance degree from Texas A & M University. Mark is a past president of the Cherry Creek Chamber of Commerce and a Founding board member of the renowned Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Mark is also in recovery and believes life and business is all about empowering people to achieve their hopes and dreams. His extensive financial experience and passion for serving others are both incredible assets for our organization.

Gregory Sheindlin

Gregory Sheindlin is an attorney who began his career as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. For over twenty years, he has been in private law practice representing clients with claims involving criminal accusations, civil rights violations and personal injuries. In 2008, he volunteered for Lawyers Without Borders to be an independent legal observer for the “Caprivi trial” in the African country of Namibia. The Caprivi trial involved approximately 200 defendants being prosecuted for high treason and murder based on their alleged attempt to create an independent country in the Caprivi region. It is the longest criminal trial in history, spanning over fifteen (15) years. Currently, Gregory Sheindlin serves on the Board of Directors for The Phoenix, New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) and Kids in Namibia Deserve Love and Encouragement (KINDLE). He is also a 2nd degree blackbelt in the Seido Karate system who, for more than 5 years, was a volunteer martial arts instructor for Young Adult Institute (YAI), teaching martial arts to to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He lives in New York City with his wife and two daughters.

Don Chapman

Don Chapman serves as Senior Vice President of Cayuse Technologies. He is responsible for P&L, operations, and business growth for Cayuse federal contracting in mission-critical classified environments. Over the past fifteen years he has also served in various leadership and subject matter expert roles as President of the Uncas Consulting Group. Since his departure from the 1st Obama Administration has served on three contracts with the ECR/Udall Foundation supporting White House National Ocean Council in strategic areas of tribal outreach, participation as it applies to tribal engagement in the Regional Planning Body process, Coastal Marine Spatial Planning, and the facilitation and outreach to Tribes on the National Ocean Policy and Implementation Plan. He also has consulted to NACA (Native American Contractors Association) where he has served as a Sr Business Development Strategist.

Over his long career, Don has advised hundreds of small and emerging businesses including diversity businesses: Tribally-owned, individually-owned Native and minority-owned small businesses, as well as advising federal agencies, and investment groups in the areas of operations, business portfolio diversity, community engagement, and other synergistic economic development areas. His work has also included the facilitation of multiple acquisitions of federal contracting businesses and formation of multiple Joint Venture and Mentor / Protégé entities over the past 10 years. His community service includes serving as the vice-chair of the Town of Leesburg Economic Development Commission and as federal contracting advisor Loudoun (VA) SBDC run by the SBA. Don is a member of the Mohegan Tribe of CT.

On October 5, 2009, Don was appointed by US Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke as the first ever Senior Policy Advisor on Native American Affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce where he served until October 3, 2011. At the Department of Commerce, Chapman was charged with helping implement Secretary Locke’s ambitious agenda to directly improve the economic profile of Indian Country through economic business development and policy implementation activities as well as development and implementation of the Dept of Commerce Tribal Consultation Policy across all of the Commerce agencies. During his tenure, over 60% of his efforts were specific to NOAA/Tribal/Treaty Tribe policy issues. Prior to his federal appointment, Chapman served in many senior executive manager capacities with the Wyandotte Tribal Corporation, Chenega Advanced Solutions and Engineering, General Dynamics, Sony Ericsson, and as a senior PTAP consultant for the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development Washington D.C. office. Chapman has been a part of the active sober community for over 35 years.

Scott Strode

Scott Strode, the Founder & National Executive Director of The Phoenix, was born and raised in Pennsylvania, spending 11 years in Boston before settling in Colorado. He found sobriety on April 8, 1997 and credits getting involved with boxing and climbing as the most influential factors in his sobriety. He has since developed a passion for mountain biking, CrossFit, triathlons, running, cycling, motorcycle touring and almost anything that gets him outside. He launched The Phoenix in Colorado in 2006, based on his personal experience that a healthy lifestyle has a transformative effect on long-term sobriety. Scott strongly believes that a sober active community helps individuals rise, recover and live through the power of fitness and community. In addition to pursuing his own fitness goals and leading the team at The Phoenix, Scott is certified or held certifications as a Certified Personal Trainer NASM, USA Triathlon level II Certified Coach, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder, CPR and has been working, instructing, coaching and guiding in the outdoors for the past two decades. To recognize his substance use disorder recovery work, Scott was named a Top 10 CNN Hero in 2012, and received the “Advocates for Action Award” from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in 2014. Watch Scott’s TEDxMileHigh talk or visit www.thephoenix.org for more information.

Dave Gann

With a degree in Fisheries biology and a background in biochemistry, Dave Gann has applied science and technology to all aspects of his professional career.  David owned and operated one of Colorado’s largest private trout farms for sixteen years.  As owner of the Silver Springs Trout Farm in Montrose Colorado, Dave served his industry as President of the Colorado Aquaculture Association, Chairman of the State Fish Health Board, Secretary of the United States Trout Farmers Association and Co-Author of the Colorado Aquaculture Act of 1991.

Dave was elected to the office of Montrose County Commissioner in the early 1990’s and also served as Chairman of the Tri-County Public Lands Partnership. In 1996 Dave went to work for The Nature Conservancy and worked in several capacities as Western Colorado Program Director and Program Manager for the chapters Energy by Design project.  Dave also worked as chapter lead on an altitudinal corridor protection project for large predator migration in Panama and finally, as Director of the Arizona Rivers Program based in Tucson Arizona studying the impact of water scarcity in the west, and the long term health of the Colorado River system.  Currently, Dave is the Chief Science Officer at South River Aquaponics, an organically certified aquaponics greenhouse, culinary and medicinal mushroom farm.

Dave dedicates his time monitoring and managing, water chemistry, plant health, and nutritional needs within the greenhouse.  Most recently, working closely staff and leadership, Dave has led the effort to commercially grow gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. A Colorado native and talented musician, Dave has appeared in dozens of musical theater productions, entertained audiences throughout Colorado,  produced a record of original songs and  also represented the state of Colorado as a musical ambassador to Colorado’s sister city Yamagata Japan. Dave lives in Montrose with his wife Linda where they enjoy grandchildren, outdoor activities, guitar, Native American studies, conservation, natural resource and wildlife management.