Our Staff

We have 11 dedicated staff members with an average of 4 years service at either Alpha Oaks or Cornerstone. Eight are Certified Alcoholism and Other Addictions Recovery Specialists at levels I or II. They provide 7 day a week support services to our detox and recovery residents.

Debbie Vogel, Executive Director

I have had the privilege of being part of the team at ARPW since 1994. I am an alumni of Alpha Oaks and have served on the Board of Directors of California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources. The bonuses in my job are the successes of the women. I feel I am only as good as my staff and that I need to assure and maintain our facilities to help those women in need. It is important that staff and myself are role models.

Janet Lumberg, President, Board of Directors

In the late 1980's, getting sober on my own was not do-able for me. Alpha Oaks allowed me the physical and emotional safety to find my soul, to find my God. Through the lessons of Alpha Oaks I was able to learn how to return to being a productive part of society. Now I have the opportunity to help in providing that kind of opportunity to other women in need. I am grateful to be able to do so.

Susan Blacksher,MSW, Secretary, Board of Directors

Over the last 43 years, I have worked in the field of substance abuse recovery in California. I am currently Executive Director of the California Association of Addiction Recovery Resources. I also have management oversight responsibility for Gateway Foundation, a residential program for Women, and Sacramento Recovery House , a residential program for men.

I am active on the Board of ARPW because I value the long standing professionalism and dedication of the staff here.

Joyce Thille, Treasurer, Executive Director Emeritus

I was 5 years sober when I became Executive Director of Associated Recovery Program for Women in 1977. Our objective since the beginning has been to provide women a safe environment to make changes, primarily with regard to alcoholism. Over the 30 years since then, I have had the gift of seeing thousands of women participate in our approach to recovery. In this field, salaries are not very high, and so the reward the staff gets is seeing the success of the women who go through the program.