
Sisters of Sobriety Board of Directors

Angie Kazemier
Co-Founder/Executive Director/Treasurer
When I was 4 years clean and sober in 2008, I had a dream of helping women in recovery and to give back what was so freely given to me. My husband Rick and I were taken to this house and I immediately saw my disease looking straight back at me. This house was a replica of what I had been for 30 years. Beat down with no ambition, self-loathing and no self-esteem. I didn’t want to live. I was going to die an alcoholic/addict, I accepted the truth in my despair. I was incomprehensibly demoralized. A stranger at that time stood before me and showed me that there was hope. This person taught me unconditional acceptance and love like I had never known. I surrendered my will September 27, 2004 and was blessed with a pathway to recovery through my higher power and the tables of NA & AA. This began to feed my want to live. My life hasn’t been the same since. Just as the stranger stood before me, I stood before this home and saw hope and the potential of something “Grand”, as a couple had described it. Recovery for this home was born that day. My dream is now a goal for women that enter through SOS doors will feel the serenity and calmness of a life that they thought never existed. I now can share with women a new peace and a new happiness, as I do now with my spirituality, my husband Rick, my children, and my recovery family.
I invite you to visit and share your experience, strength and hope with SOS residents or to support a sister of sobriety.

Pastor Joe Cottle
Trustee
I was born into a preacher’s home and family in 1966, the fifth child of seven. My parents were compassionate ministers that on more than one occasion took in individuals trying to overcome addiction issues. The 1970’s provided ample opportunity for such interventions. In these situations I saw what the dreadful challenges of overcoming addiction issues entailed. I attended 4 years at a Christian high school and then later in life attended Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs. My own ministry career has been in small independent churches where intervention ministry was quite personal and direct. I am ordained by the Righteous Preacher’s Network, an organization headed by Dr. Mark T. Barclay whose own testimony includes overcoming addiction. For the last 8 years we have been operating our independent ministry, Radical Impact Ministries, Motivation and Media. We are convinced that God has deliverance and specific plans of good for every individual, no matter their challenges. We are glad to be helping friends like Rick and Angie and Sisters of Sobriety.

David Roman
Trustee
David Roman
Director of Adolescent Treatment Facilities at Addiction Therapeutic Services in Rancho Mirage Ca.
Bachelors, Criminal Justice-National University
Masters, Criminal Law-National University
35 Years of Recovery in Narcotics Anonymous
Retired Marine, 21 years of active duty
Prevention and education are my favorite topics
28 years as a certified, licensed counselor, Drugs and Alcohol
Certified Interventionist
Domestic Violence Counselor 1,11
42 years of continued Abstinence from drugs and alcohol
Work an active twelve step program in Narcotics Anonymous
Four years of volunteer work at Camp Valor ( PTSD clinic for veterans) in Conroe Tx

Rick Kazemier
Co-Founder/President
Richard Kazemier was born in Grand Rapids Mi in 1957. He is first generation American. His parents immigrated with their families after WWII. Oldest of six children he attended west side Christian and Calvin Christian high school. He entered the construction industry as a laborer in 1978 in San Diego, California. Worked as a laborer, and joined the Carpenters’ Union and the apprenticeship program and received his journeymen’s card.
In 1983 he entered his first treatment for drug addiction and alcoholism in Phoenix, Arizona. Three years later he was back in treatment after a serious relapse. He returned to Grand Rapids in 1988 clean and sober for 18 months.
In 1990 he experienced what he was told was a career ending injury. Enrolled in GRCC in the youth services program. Started working at Glenbiegh Recovery Center in Grand Rapids. For the next nine years he worked for care unit of Grand Rapids, North Ottawa Community Hospital Adolescent Treatment Center in Grand Haven MI, and Reality Counseling Services in Grand Rapids.
In 1999 Rick experienced another relapse after 14 years of sobriety that lasted 9 years. He returned to construction during that time doing bridge work. He remarried in 1999 to his current wife Angela, they will celebrate 19 years together this year.
In 2008 rick entered Brighton Hospital for opiate addiction. He will celebrate 10 years of long term recovery this year. He retired from the union in 2013.
Angela had a dream…and that dream became a reality in 2015 with the birth of Sisters Of Sobriety… and retirement ended. Rick’s experience working in the social work field of substance abuse and his personal experience with recovery and relapse were all necessary to prepare him for the mission here at Sisters Of Sobriety.

Diana Farrington
Trustee
Diana Farrington has experience in both the private and public sectors. During most of her career, Ms.
Farrington climbed the ranks in the back-office portion of the mortgage industry, culminating in the
roles of Underwriter, Auditor and Quality Control Specialist.
Likewise, she joined her husband as they started up a recruiting company that focused on the
professions of Finance, Accounting, IT and Engineering where she did the recruiting by day and
bookkeeping by night.
In addition to the industry experience, Ms. Farrington was a State Representative for six years, serving
on multiple committees and was Chair of Financial Services for the Michigan House of Representatives
during the entire time. She was term-limited at the end of 2022 and now operates Farrington
Bookkeeping, an outsourced bookkeeping firm.
Ms. Farrington has been married to her husband Jeff for 37 years, they have two adult sons, a daughter
in-law and two grandchildren.

Nicolas J. Finley
Vice President

Erica Straight
Secretary
Erica resides with her family and fur babies in Gaylord, MI. She is an SOS alumnus and remains forever grateful to SOS for giving her the tools she needed to live a happy and sober life.
Before successful completion from the SOS program, Erica stayed at SOS as a house manager. Being able to be apart of helping other women find recovery fed her soul and it was at SOS where she found purpose and meaning in her own life.
When Erica returned home, she carried on with her purpose of helping others find a recovery path that works for them by becoming a certified peer recovery coach. Currently, she is a volunteer peer recovery coach thru NMSAS and is working toward becoming a certified alcohol and drug counselor.

Dr. Melissa Wallager
Trustee
At a very young age her grandma gave her the nickname “the people watcher” because of how intently she observed others. A career in psychology fits just right. Dr. Wallager’s family and animals are the brightest source of light in her life. She loves all types of music, and you may catch her singing from time to time. One focus for her in life is reaching self-actualization under her terms and personal expectations. She believes that a life of peace and serenity makes a person richer than any dollar amount. She lives each day influencing honesty, integrity, confidentiality, and treating others with dignity and respect. With an intense level of honor, Dr. Wallager strives to make a positive impact on all the lives of the people she encounters while on this beautiful planet and insists on accomplishing as much as possible in life. She is an Associate of Science in medical assisting, a Bachelor of Science in health services administration, a Master of Science in industrial and organizational psychology, and a Doctor of Philosophy in developmental psychology focusing on the entire lifespan. Additionally, she is a state certified medical assistant, recovery coach, and alcohol and drug counselor in the state of Michigan. Dr. Wallager’s career interests are teaching psychology and researching human behavior, addiction, substance use disorder, and mental health. Why do we do what we do, and why are we who we are?
