Webinar Series for New Professionals

We are excited to announce our 3-part webinar series for students, recent graduates, and new professionals! While all are welcome, we will focus on setting career goals, healthy workplaces, and capacity engagement in prevention!

Part 1: Thriving Where You Work: The Importance of Workplace Well-Being for Emerging Professionals 
Presented by: Gretchen Summerville

As you step into your career, your personal well-being and the culture of your workplace will shape not only how you work – but how you grow. This interactive session introduces the foundational concepts and research of workplace well-being, exploring the broader systems and practices that support mental health at work. Through the lens of a workplace mental health framework, we’ll explore components including workplace culture, staff support, professional development, employee benefits, and work-life balance. Designed specifically for emerging professionals, this training will help you recognize the signs of a healthy work environment, understand what you need as a new professional, and begin building a sustainable and meaningful career – grounded in well-being, belonging, and intention. Learning to thrive at work equips you to meet challenges with confidence and to lead with empathy, integrity, and purpose in service to others.

Gretchen Summerville is a public health professional with 30 years of experience spanning prevention, disease intervention, counseling, and community-based health promotion. She has served in roles ranging from state coordinator to frontline counselor in both nonprofit and government settings across North Carolina and Nevada. A longtime advocate for community health and holistic well-being, Gretchen is passionate about fostering healthy workplaces and supporting individuals to thrive – mentally, physically, and professionally. Her career has also included work as a certified nutrition coach and kettlebell fitness instructor. Outside of work, she finds joy in motherhood, travel, and the great outdoors – hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and kayaking.

Part 2: From Buzz Words to Action: Building Capacity to Engage in Effective Primary Prevention Practice
Presented by: Angela Maxwell, PhD, CPS
As we navigate unprecedented times, it is imperative that the primary prevention field examines and builds capacity to mitigate the impact of substance use effectively and impartially at the individual, community, and system levels. “Our capacity to examine our environments, decisions, policies, perspectives, budgets, space allocations… and other areas with an eye to how we affect all members of the community will help us make the best decisions as [practitioners]” (Nair & Thomas, 2018). This presentation will create space for participants to examine their individual and collective roles in ensuring that everyone they serve has the resources to meet their full potential.

Angela Maxwell, PhD, CPS, currently works with the NC Department of Health and Human Services where she serves as the Substance Use Prevention Block Grant Manager. Her role includes oversight and support for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of primary substance use prevention services across the state for SUPTRS Prevention Block Grant, ARPA, and SOR IV. Prior to her current role, Angela served as the Prevention Services Director for Alcohol and Drug Services (20 years), overseeing services in ten counties across central North Carolina. She has worked in the substance use primary prevention field for nearly 30 years. Angela is also the co-founder of a private training and consulting organization which focuses on strategic planning, organizational and program development, capacity building, team building and leadership development services. She has a B.A. Degree in English (UNC-Chapel Hill), M.S. Degree in Agency Counseling (NC A&T State University) and Ph.D. in Leadership Studies (NC A&T State University). Angela is a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) and has served as an adjunct professor at the community college level. Angela has served on several local, state and national boards, task forces and committees. She has facilitated numerous workshops on the local, state and national level in the areas of substance use prevention, addiction, workforce development, ethics, equity, social justice, strategic planning, coalition development, workplace wellness, and prevention credentialing. She is sought after as an authority in the field of primary substance use prevention. Angela has received three statewide substance use professional of the year awards (2008, 2010, 2019).

Part 3: Purpose, Principles, & Possibilities
Presented by Jerome Randolph & Jarmichael Harris, MS, LCAS

The behavioral health field offers endless opportunities—but without a clear sense of purpose, it’s easy to feel scattered or overwhelmed. Whether you’re just entering the field or looking to realign your path, this interactive session will help you connect to your mission, clarify your principles, and translate them into meaningful action.

Through reflective exercises, peer discussion, and live examples, participants will explore their values, passions, and lived experiences to define their unique “why.” Attendees will engage in a Values Mapping activity to articulate what drives them, followed by a Possibilities Pathways exercise introducing diverse roles across the behavioral health spectrum—including peer support, advocacy, education, direct service, and systems change. You’ll assess how your story and strengths align with these paths and begin building a strategy for confidently pursuing them.

The session culminates in creating a Purpose-Driven Roadmap—a personalized action plan outlining concrete next steps to turn purpose into progress. Participants will leave with greater clarity, motivation, and practical tools to guide their professional and personal journey in behavioral health.

Jerome Randolph is a passionate and purpose-driven leader with over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of education and community development. While new to addiction and recovery, Jerome brings a strong track record of supporting individuals and organizations in building pathways to opportunity, from early education to advanced degrees. Throughout his career, he has focused on expanding access, fostering belonging, and creating environments where people from all backgrounds can thrive. His approach centers on practical solutions that unite people, strengthen communities, and ensure everyone has a fair chance of success. A passionate history enthusiast, Jerome is inspired by the stories of individuals who’ve shaped the world.

Jarmichael Harris, MS, LCAS has worked in the addiction treatment and recovery sphere for nearly 15 years. His unique brand of advocacy has led him to become highly respected amongst his peers and is regarded as a subject matter expert in the field. Jarmichael has been instrumental to the growth and development of collegiate recovery programs in North Carolina and around the country. He has been credited with several state and national awards and recognized by his alma mater for his efforts directly tied to the success and advocacy of collegiate recovery. Jarmichael is an outdoors enthusiast who enjoys water sports, hikes, and obstacle course racing.