Meet Ten16’s leadership team

Sam has been leading Ten16 since 2003. In that time, Sam and his team has seen the agency grow from three core programs to nine different service lines, and from three locations in two counties to twenty locations across nine counties. Sam has pioneered several programs in the state, including Project Assert in hospital emergency departments, collegiate recovery and Ten16’s unique recovery center model. He is actively involved in state-level policy and advocacy efforts. Experiencing redemption in his own life, he is driven to bring programs that provide people opportunities to change the trajectory of their lives and equip them to find meaning, purpose and connection in their own.

Prior to his work at Ten16, Sam has held leadership positions at agencies in the community mental health system, child welfare, human services and served as a youth pastor. He has two master’s degrees: in religion (Asbury Theological Seminary) and in Marriage & Family Therapy (Michigan State University), and a business degree from Central Michigan University.

Laurie Keyser began working at Ten16 back in 1997 when her young family moved to Midland to be closer to her husband’s family. She received my business degree from the University of Michigan and worked in the Detroit area as a CPA for 12 years prior to moving to Midland.

The organization was much smaller when she arrived in 1997, and it has been a great joy to see all the different ways our agency has grown to support those suffering with SUD not only in Midland but across the mid-Michigan region.

Her role is overseeing the financial and human resources functions of Ten16. She is humbled by the difficult work done by Ten16 and honored to be a part of this organization for so long.  Her young family has grown, and her 3 children all work in different cities now, but she and her husband continue to enjoy their life in Midland.

Holli Carter came to Ten16 Recovery Network by way of the criminal justice system. She began as a Probation/Parole Agent, and eventually found her way to the intersection of criminal justice and behavioral health as Midland County’s first Human Services Coordinator within the Midland County Jail.

It was in that role that her love for those who struggle with addiction was forged. She joined the Ten16 team in June of 2004 and has been a leader for the Residential Program since.

She holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Central Michigan University as well as Michigan credentials as a Certified Addictions Counselor and a Certified Clinical Supervisor.

Christa Galer started with Ten16 Recovery Network as an “interim manager” for the Big Rapids Outpatient office in September 2009.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hope College (1991) and a Masters in Social Work from Michigan State University (1993), as well as holding the MCBAP Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Certified Clinical Supervisor credentials.  Christa spent many years working with children and families impacted by behavioral health concerns including substance use disorders prior to beginning to specialize her training in substance use disorders until 2006 after the passing of her father from alcoholic cirrhosis.

During her first stint with Ten16 she moved from managing and providing clinical services from the Big Rapids office to eventually managing the programs at the five outpatient locations (at that time).  She took a break in 2015 to work in the Big Rapids community within the primary care setting, hoping to help those with behavioral health concerns (including substance use concerns) to achieve better coordinated health care and to address the stigma surrounding use of substances.

Christa returned to Ten16 Recovery Network, Big Rapids, in October 2020, in a role managing the Big Rapids Outpatient location and part of the leadership team.

Taylor came to Ten16 shortly after completing her bachelor’s degree at Central Michigan University. Over the years she has grown with the agency, graduating from Michigan State University with her Masters while working in the field. She is a licensed social worker and a certified addictions counselor. She is proud to have become part of the leadership team in 2020.

Taylor identifies as an Adult Child of Addicts (ACA) who comes to Ten16 with a personal passion and drive to serve this population. Aside from being able to give back, what she admires most about the agency is their efforts to invest in both their staff and their clients.

Jessica has been with Ten16 since September of 2014. She has worked at many of the sites throughout the agency, giving her a holistic understanding of what our agency has to offer. Jessica graduated with her MSW in 2017 and has worked in the Midland Outpatient site since that time.

Most recently Jessica, joined our leadership team as the Midland Community Engagement manager. She is passionate about making changes in our community and in the lives of all those we serve.

Jessica Miller is a person in long term recovery and has been with Ten16 since summer of 2016 after more than a decade of work in higher education. Her passion for working with college students and desire to help people find and maintain recovery came together in the development of Ten16’s CREW program (Collegiate Recovery, Education, and Wellness) where students are supported in their recovery to reach their academic and personal goals.

Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s in Counseling degree from Oakland University and is a Michigan Licensed Profession Counselor and Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Outside of work you can find Jessica watching some obscure documentary, volunteering at church, working on a jigsaw puzzle, and spending time with her husband Jeff and daughters Ashley and Lauren.

Beth Ureche is a person in long-term recovery who is passionate about carrying a message of hope to others. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Coach and Community Health Worker and has been with Ten16 since 2012.  Beth is the Saginaw Bay Recovery Engagement Manager, the Program Manager for the Bay Peer Navigator program, and the Outreach Subject Matter Expert for the Project ASSERT Program. Additionally, Beth is a state-wide trainer for both the CCAR Recovery Coach Academy and Project ASSERT Programs.

Beth credits the gift of recovery for all the above and says that an even greater joy in her life is that her four adult children have been witness to her healing journey and that today, she is blessed with loving relationships with them and her 4 precious grandsons.

The thing Beth likes most about working for Ten16 is they truly care for the folks they serve and honor their lived experiences. They empower their clients and staff alike to become the best version of themselves that they can be. They truly walk their talk, and Beth values that very much.

Shay Tullar is Ten Sixteen Recovery Network’s Prevention Coordinator for Mecosta County and Prevention Subject Matter Expert. Shay has been employed with Ten16 for four years, and an active member of her local substance awareness coalition for 12 years, serving as the facilitator since joining the Ten16 team.

She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Michigan State University in 2007, and became a Certified Prevention Specialist through the Michigan Certification Board of Addiction Professionals in early 2020.

Shay has a huge passion for her community, and is heavily involved in many local endeavors, serving as vice chair for the local Human Services Collaborative, vice president on the local homeless shelter’s Board of Directors, and a member-at-large for several other groups. Shay has played a role in recently kickstarting a regional coalition group, tackling substance use prevention efforts on a broader regional scale. Ever the educator, Shay is also a weekly facilitator for Batterer’s Intervention courses, striving to improve the community she is proud to be a part of.

Lindsay has migrated up to Michigan from Florida and Tennessee and comes to Ten16 with experience in data, evaluation, compliance, and fun! She graduated from the University of Tennessee Knoxville with her Master’s in Social Work and chose the macro, rather than clinical, side of her degree.

Ten16 Recovery Network caught her eye even before she moved to Michigan in January 2020 due to the population served and the ability here to help make a difference in the lives of all the communities we serve.

Heather is the Connections Manager for Ten16 and has been with the agency since 2016. As the Connections Manager, she works to resource staff and clients in the best ways possible. Additionally she works across the agency on operational and facility issues.

Prior to working for Ten16, Heather worked at a treatment facility in Grand Rapids and a homeless prevention agency in Kalamazoo. She is a native Midland resident with a Master’s degree in Family Life Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Music, both from Western Michigan University.

Heather is passionate about building relationships and views her work at the agency to help others build professional and therapeutic relationships in the best ways possible. One of the best aspects of working at the agency for Heather is engaging with staff and clients passionate about recovery and choosing to live life fully.

Isaac Dieterman came to Ten16 in September 2018. Isaac is a licensed counselor, certified alcohol and drug counselor, and a nationally certified counselor.  Isaac originally worked as the Student Support Coordinator for CMCREW (Central Michigan Collegiate Recovery Education and Wellness) as he completed his master’s degree in counseling from CMU. He began working as an outpatient therapist for Ten16 Clare outpatient in May 2019, where he facilitated group therapy and provided individual counseling. Isaac began serving as the Community Engagement Manager at the Ten16 Clare Center for Recovery and Wellness in April 2023 and is excited to be a part of the leadership team at Ten16.

Isaac is a person in long-term recovery since September 26, 2015, Isaac was the founder of a Student Organization at Central Michigan University called SOAR (Student Organization for Addiction Recovery), and has been a speaker at many events where he shared his story of recovery, is a 2020 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program – Addiction Counseling alumni, and has a passion for helping other people to find the freedom that he did from substance use disorder.

When he is not working, you can find Isaac spending time with his wife and son, splitting firewood, hunting, golfing, skiing, or drinking a full pot of coffee to himself.