THE CHANGE COMPANIES
About Us
For over 30 years, The Change Companies has delivered cutting-edge behavior change tools to over 26 million individuals in addiction treatment and justice services. We combine the latest change research with end-user feedback to continually improve the design and delivery of our evidence-based practice of Interactive Journaling®.
YOUR PARTNER
Our Mission
The Change Companies bridges the gap between science and practice by:
Using an individualized and person-centered approach | |
Making evidence-based practices engaging and effective | |
Measuring/tracking what’s working and demonstrating progress |
Our core practice, Interactive Journaling®, uses a person-centered approach to drive positive behavior change across a range of need areas. Our trainings support effective implementation of evidence-based practices. We’re the trusted partner of over 5,000 organizations nationwide (sampled here).
Company History and Growth
Over 35 years ago, The Change Companies was founded on the philosophy that:
- All change is self-change.
- Everyone is capable of positive change.
With this philosophy in mind, Interactive Journaling® was developed. This person-centered practice helps individuals tap into their own strengths, motivations and inner wisdom to move toward positive change. The practice began in addiction treatment and soon spread to justice services, impaired driving and beyond.
Today, The Change Companies offers a comprehensive suite of solutions for:
- Adult addiction treatment
- Adolescent treatment and prevention
- Impaired driving
- Jails
- Juvenile justice
- Prisons
- Court services and diversion programs
- Probation and parole
- Public behavioral health agencies (coming soon)
Our trainings, curricula and other resources are designed in partnership with industry experts using evidence-based principles like motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy and the stages of change model.
Our core philosophy remains the same, and we’ll continue to blend evidence-based practices into everything we do. We’re building the future together with you, our partners in behavior change, and it looks like:
- Increasingly robust pathways for staff learning and development
- Convenient digital access to evidence-based client resources, including Interactive Journaling®
- A growing library of multimedia resources for staff and clients
- More robust client and staff data to inform programming decisions
- Ongoing growth of our content library to promote learning and engagement across a range of need areas
WILLIAM R. MILLER, PHD
Senior Advisor
BILL MILLER
William R. Miller (Bill), Ph.D., is emeritus distinguished professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of New Mexico. He earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Oregon. In 1983, he introduced motivational interviewing, a widely embraced counseling approach. Miller has written 66 books (translated into 28 languages), along with over 450 scientific and professional articles and chapters. His primary research is in the psychology of change, with a focus on treatment for substance use disorders.
DAVID MEE-LEE, MD
Senior Advisor
DAVID MEE-LEE
David Mee-Lee, M.D., is a psychiatrist certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM). Based in Davis, California, he trains and consults internationally. Mee-Lee was editor in chief of the American Society of Addiction Medicine's (ASAM) Criteria for all editions from 1991-2013. He is president of DML Training and Consulting and has over 40 years’ experience in person-centered treatment and program development for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions.
CLAUDIA BLACK, PHD
Content Contributor
CLAUDIA BLACK
Claudia Black, Ph.D., is the clinical architect of the Claudia Black Young Adult Center at The Meadows Treatment Center in Arizona. She has been a senior fellow and clinical consultant at The Meadows since 1998. Black's contributions include naming and defining dysfunctional family rules, and illuminating delayed stress, emotional trauma, and the denial process in children affected by a parent’s addiction. She is a globally recognized author and trainer, and serves on the Advisory Board for the National Association of Children of Addiction and the Advisory Committee for Camp Mariposa, the Eluna Foundation's national addiction prevention and mentoring initiative.
EMILY SALISBURY, PHD
Content Contributor
EMILY SALISBURY
Emily Salisbury, Ph.D., is associate professor and director of the Utah Criminal Justice Center at the University of Utah College of Social Work and research director of the Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA) instruments. She is an applied criminologist with a focus on correctional treatment interventions, especially for system-involved women. Salisbury’s research centers on correctional policy, offender risk assessment, treatment strategies, and gender-responsive and trauma-responsive care. She has received the Marguerite Q. Warren and Ted B. Palmer Differential Intervention Award from the American Society of Criminology Division on Corrections and Sentencing. Salisbury has also served as editor in chief of Criminal Justice and Behavior and co-authored the book "Correctional Counseling and Rehabilitation."
DENISE WALKER, PHD
Content Contributor
DENISE WALKER
Denise Walker, Ph.D., is a research professor at the University of Washington, where she directs the Innovative Programs Research Group. She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of New Mexico and completed her predoctoral internship at Yale University, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Washington. Walker specializes in developing and assessing interventions for cannabis use disorders in adults and adolescents. Her work spans brief interventions like motivational enhancement therapy (MET) to longer treatment courses such as combining MET with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), as well as aftercare programs. She played a key role in the development and evaluation of the Teen Marijuana Check-Up (TMCU), a school-based intervention for heavy-using adolescents, recognized as evidence-based on the NREPP through five clinical trials.
NORM HOFFMAN, PHD
Content Contributor
NORM HOFFMANN
Norman G. Hoffmann, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and internationally recognized expert in the assessment of mental health and substance use disorders and the evaluation of behavioral health programs. During a 40-year career, his work formed the basis for the first ASAM patient placement criteria, and more recently, he designed the tools for the NAATP initial pilot outcome study. He has provided consultation services for state and federal agencies, corporations and public organizations throughout the U.S., Canada and various countries in Europe. He has authored or co-authored more than 230 publications related to his work. Hoffmann has had faculty appointments at the University of Minnesota, University of Texas Medical Branch and Brown University.
ADRIEN LAWYER
Content Contributor
ADRIEN LAWYER
Adrien Lawyer, director of education at the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico (TGRCNM), co-founded the organization in 2008 with Zane Stephens, establishing it as a hub for services, education and advocacy within New Mexico's transgender community. Lawyer has conducted over 3,500 transgender cultural fluency training sessions across the state, training correctional facilities, district attorney offices, police departments, schools, healthcare providers, businesses and more. Nationally, Lawyer is recognized for TGRCNM's success as a local service model, presenting and consulting on various transgender community issues. He has received honors such as the Jose Sarria Into the Light Award, the Vincent R. Johnson Model of Hope Award, and the Advocacy In Action (AIA) Professional Innovation in Victim Services Award from the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission (CVRC) in 2019.
HUGH HURWITZ
Consulting Partner
HUGH HURWITZ
Hugh Hurwitz offers consulting services in prison management, reentry, acquisition, financial management, organizational transformation, business process enhancement, policy implementation and human capital initiatives. His extensive background equips him with a unique perspective and senior leadership experience. Hurwitz began his career in 1988 as a law clerk with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, leading to roles including chief of national contracts and policy, chief of acquisitions branch and procurement executive. He also held significant positions at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Education and NASA's Office of Inspector General. In 2017, he led Bureau of Prisons reentry programs and played a crucial role in implementing the First Step Act. In June 2020, he assumed the role of assistant director for the administrative division, serving as the agency's chief financial officer and senior procurement official until his retirement in March 2021.
MARCUS HICKS
Consulting Partner
MARCUS HICKS
Marcus Hicks founded The Corrective Impact Group to support leaders and businesses in the criminal justice sector. With a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in government from the College of William and Mary, he has successfully lobbied for resources through written and oral testimony. As CEO of a major New Jersey state agency, Marcus initiated the "Workforce Wellness Initiative," offering mental health, financial planning and counseling services. He has also served as vide president of the Correctional Leaders Association (CLA). Hicks is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and the District of Columbia, using his legal skills for criminal justice reform and multimillion-dollar procurements.
RYAN LECHNER
Co-CEO
RYAN LECHNER
Ryan brings over a decade of experience growing technical, R&D-led organizations. Prior to joining The Change Companies, Ryan joined Bain & Company’s healthcare and technology practices, working with Fortune 500 clients to address their most pressing business challenges. He also worked on Netflix’s Content Strategy team where he built out the company’s original non-fiction content library and subsequently led R&D efforts at both early and late stage startups. Having seen friends and loved ones struggle with addiction and cycle through the justice system, he is inspired by and committed to The Change Companies’ mission to help individuals make lasting and positive life changes.
NICO GIMENEZ
Co-CEO
NICO GIMENEZ
With a life-long passion for cognitive science and mental health, Nico is deeply committed to The Change Companies’ mission: helping individuals make positive behavior changes. Prior to The Change Companies, Nico led investments and set the strategic direction for companies ranging from startups to large, mature businesses. His experience includes healthcare mergers & acquisitions at J.P. Morgan, private equity at Odyssey Investment Partners, technology investments at Pritzker Group, strategy & operations at Bird Rides, and co-founding Commit, a software business focused on athlete performance management. Nico brings these experiences to help The Change Companies innovate and continue to support the real heroes—the frontline workers facilitating these positive changes in their communities every day.
VALERIE BAGLEY
Chief Program Officer
VALERIE BAGLEY, MAPP
Valerie oversees the development of The Change Companies’ library of training and curriculum offerings, and consults with industry leaders on facilitating positive change with specific populations and settings. Valerie has overseen the development of over 35 cognitive-behavioral curricula during her tenure at The Change Companies, and her background in positive psychology brings an evidence-informed and strength-based approach to The Change Companies’ growing library of content. Prior to The Change Companies, Valerie developed resilience and social-emotional educational resources for justice-involved and at-risk youth.
AMBER BOLLINGER
Chief People and Operations Officer
AMBER BOLLINGER
Amber Bollinger has more than 20 years’ experience in leadership, organizational development and culture, cross-functional alignment, recruitment and operational processes. In her prior role as Chief Experience Officer at Remarkable Health, Amber created an environment focused on employee and customer engagement and experience, which she has also brought to The Change Companies.
Our Train for Change training team helps you implement programs to fidelity.
SCOTT BOYLES
Senior National Training Director
SCOTT BOYLES
Scott Boyles is a licensed addiction counselor, MINT trainer and the Senior National Training Director for Train for Change Inc. Mr. Boyles has spent more than three decades in the behavioral health field and has many years of experience working with the ASAM Criteria. Mr. Boyles is one of the original early adopters of the ASAM criteria, starting in 1991.Before becoming a full-time trainer, Mr. Boyles used the criteria professionally as a counselor and director. From 2007-2011, Mr. Boyles also served as a member of the ASAM Steering Committee for the ASAM Patient Placement Criteria. He also spent many years as a site reviewer, monitoring programs’ application of the criteria. Mr. Boyles’ experience at all levels of service and observation has enabled him to understand trainees’ needs in both education and application at different levels of the service system. Since 1993, he has trained more than 8,000 people in proper use of the criteria. Mr. Boyles has passion and expertise in system-change approaches to support effective implementation and use of the ASAM criteria. He is well-known for his information, engaging, and entertaining trainings, which include practical, real-world applications.
ROBERT KEHOE
Trainer
ROBERT KEHOE
Robert Kehoe is a U.S. Navy veteran with a master’s degree in counseling psychology who retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons as a psychology treatment program manager. He now works as a behavior change trainer and consultant. Kehoe has more than 20 years’ experience with justice-involved populations at the federal and state level. His main area of expertise is behavior change related to substance use disorder and mental health treatment. He has provided direct services in residential and non-residential settings as well as curricula development and program oversight. Kehoe has delivered over 100 training sessions and webinars on substance use disorder treatment and related subjects, and has presented workshops at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and the American Probation and Parole national conferences. One of his current interests is helping state level justice-involved individuals reenter society.
KAREN HELLMAN
Trainer
KAREN HELLMAN
Karen Hellman is a licensed independent substance abuse counselor (LISAC) with nearly 30 years’ experience in addiction treatment, correctional programming and administration. She earned her B.A. in psychology from Hunter College in 1993, followed by an M.A. in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 1996. Throughout her career, she's held diverse roles, including counselor, clinical supervisor, academy training officer and executive leader, spanning juvenile corrections, community providers, county jail and adult corrections. Hellman recently served as assistant director for inmate programs ane reentry at the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry until her 2022 retirement. She has excelled in selecting, implementing and evaluating evidence-based programs and practices, while also engaging in impactful presentations and contributing to legislative/governmental workgroups and task forces.
DOTTI FARR
Trainer
DOTTI FARR
Ms. Farr provides training and consultation to private organizations, county governments, and state governments. Previously she was the manager of Clinical and Quality Management services for the Bucks County Department of Behavioral Health. She concurrently served as the Clinical Director for the Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission. Ms. Farr was a reviewer on the revised SAMHSA/CSAT TIP 42 on Co-Occurring Disorders, and continues to work with them as a consultant/reviewer. She has extensive experience as a trainer locally, regionally, and nationally. She works with providers to improve access to care, quality of services and treatment outcomes. Ms. Farr is an ASSIST 11 trainer, and has completed the NIATx Coaches Academy. She is trained in Motivational Interviewing by MINT Trainers and has presented numerous trainings on MI. She has also been trained as a trainer with the National Institute of Corrections in Effective Communication, a model designed to reduce recidivism in antisocial populations utilizing Motivational Interviewing principles, coupled with other best practice protocols. Certified as a trainer in Motivational Interviewing, Co-Occurring Disorders, Treatment Planning, and Forensics and Addiction, Ms. Farr conducts trainings for the State of Pennsylvania/Department of Health/Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. She has contracted with ZIA Partners to consult with organizations interested in becoming Behavioral Health Centers of Excellence. Ms. Farr was awarded the Outstanding Practitioner Award at the 2006 Pennsylvania Co-Occurring Disorders Conference held in Hershey, PA, in recognition of her efforts at the national, state, and local level.
A HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE
Awards and Recognitions
Curriculum listed on CrimeSolutions.gov | |
Training accreditations through NBCC, NAADAC, CADTP, OASAS, IAODAPCA, CCAPP and CAADE | |
Curricula listed as Evidence-based Recidivism Reduction Programs (EBRRs) at the Federal Bureau of Prisons | |
Partnerships with AllRise, Correctional Leaders Association (CLA) and the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) | |
Recognized by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) as a designated trainer for The ASAM Criteria | |
Trainers with memberships in the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) |