REACH!! UNITED

AN urgent national campaign to dramatically Reduce overdose deaths and Improve the access and quality of treatment for those fighting the disease of addiction.

One Family’s Tragedy

A Nation’s Crisis

Facing the Crisis
Personal Stories of Loss and Hope

America’s Opioid Crisis

Tragically, 107,543 Americans lost their lives to opioid overdoses in 2023, with a total of 1 million deaths over the past seven years. It is crucial that the $55 billion from opioid abatement settlements be allocated urgently and strategically.

The Reach!! Team

Dr. Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, FASA

National Advisory Board

  • Dr. Jerome Adams was appointed as a Presidential Fellow and the first Executive Director of Health Equity Initiatives on October 1, 2021 and is now the Purdue University Center for Community Health Enhancement and Learning (HEAL). He is also a Distinguished Professor of Practice in the departments of Pharmacy Practice and Public Health.

    As the 20th U.S. Surgeon General and a prior member of the President’s Coronavirus task force, Dr. Adams has been at the forefront of America’s most pressing health challenges. A regular communicator via tv, radio, and print, Dr. Adams is an expert not just in the science, but also in communicating the science to the lay public and making it relevant to various audiences.

    Dr. Adams is a licensed anesthesiologist with a master’s degree in public health and ran the Indiana State Department of Health prior to becoming Surgeon General. In the State Health Commissioner role, he managed a $350 million dollar budget and over 1000 employees and led Indiana’s response to Ebola, Zika, and HIV crises. Notably, Dr. Adams helped convince the Governor and State Legislature to legalize syringe service programs in the state, and to prioritize $13 million in funding to combat infant mortality. As Surgeon General, Dr. Adams was the operational head of the 6000 person Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and oversaw responses to 3 back-to-back category 5 hurricanes, and to a once in a century pandemic.

    In addition to his recent COVID19 work, Dr. Adams has partnered with and assisted organizations as they navigate the opioid epidemic, maternal health, rising rates of chronic disease, the impacts of rising suicide rates in our Nation, and how businesses can become better stewards and stakeholders in promoting community health. (https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/chep-sgr-business-leadersdigest.pdf)

Ryan Cain

National Advisory Board

  • Ryan Cain is a vibrant member of the Nashville mental health, substance use, and business communities, with a demonstrated 24 year history of working hands-on in the healthcare industry in the service of those around him. A strong entrepreneurship professional, Ryan graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)
    from the University of Mississippi. Ryan currently serves as CEO of the Hope Desk, a mental health concierge service supporting clients such as Louisiana State University, Michigan State University, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is also
    the Executive Director of Fund Recovery, a Nashville-based non-profit that provides funding to directly support people struggling with mental health or substance misuse
    issues who cannot otherwise afford help.


    Ryan began his work in the mental health space, founding Music City
    Interventions, and developing several other mental health and addiction-specific businesses that provide relief and recovery nationwide. These businesses include the Nashville Recovery Center, the Tennessee Recovery Clinic, NRhythm Recovery
    Residences, the Becoming Counseling & Wellness, and the Nashville Detox Center.


    All told, Ryan has been instrumental in providing assistance to countless individuals suffering from mental health or substance use issues. Ryan also loves to give back to his community through his participation as a board member at the Elam Center at Meharry Medical College and as a member of both the Nashville Business Journal Leadership Trust and the Nashville Healthcare Council.

Tim Cheney

National Advisory Board

  • Timothy W. Cheney is a seasoned executive and management consultant with over four decades of experience in both the private and public sectors. His expertise encompasses the staffing, nonprofit, and addiction treatment and research industries. Tim has a proven track record in strategic planning, sales and operations management, C-level business development, technology solutions development, recruitment, training, process design, implementation, and sustainability planning. 

    Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Boston University, where he graduated summa cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He also pursued a Master of Divinity at Yale University. 

    As an experienced consultant and entrepreneur, Tim has specialized in addiction treatment, technical design, and strategic direction. He founded several organizations, including Enso Recovery, Choopers Guide, and Overdose Warning Network, pioneering innovative solutions in addiction recovery and real-time overdose reporting. As Chairman of Headway Corporate Resources, he directed international technical staffing, and through Cheney Associates, he served over 250 clients. Tim is passionate about raising funds for substance use treatment and prevention through the Choopers Foundation. 

    Tim has authored multiple epidemiological assessments on substance abuse and has been actively involved with several professional organizations, including the Connecticut Association of Personnel Services and the National Association of Personnel Consultants. 

    Deeply committed to community service, Tim has engaged with numerous organizations, including Faces and Voices of Recovery, Maine Harm Reduction Alliance, and the Lincoln County Substance Use Prevention Partnership, among others. 

John Harkrider

Senior Advisor

  • John Harkrider provides extensive financial and deal structuring knowledge to a variety of corporations, governments and individuals with a focus on post-conflict zones. With 20 years of experience in Southern and Eastern Europe, his detailed knowledge of emerging markets is highly valued. He specializes in deal structuring, business liaison and private equity activities focusing on infrastructure, agriculture and energy for multinational companies and governments pursuing business opportunities in the industrial and financial sectors. A native Texan, Harkrider has studied in various universities in Europe and speaks Spanish, Italian, German, and Turkish. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in diplomatic history and an interdisciplinary Masters Degree in History, Government and Business from the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania.

Brian McCabe

National Advisory Board

  • Brian McCabe serves as a managing partner at DCI Group. He oversees a significant portion of the firm’s client portfolio as well as the firm’s digital services team. His breadth of experience includes extensive work in the telecommunications, technology and financial services sectors helping clients develop effective approaches to public policy issues, mergers and acquisitions, crisis communications and litigation issues.

    Brian served as president of the award-winning Progress for America (PFA), a national political organization which was active during the 2004 presidential campaign. The PFA team produced the ad “Ashley’s Story,” which the Washington Post said “significantly affected the race” and Ad Age named a top ten ad of the year – the only political ad to be recognized. He then led PFA’s national campaign to build support for the confirmation of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito in 2004 and 2005.

    Prior to joining DCI Group in 2002, Brian founded his own public affairs firm, McCabe Consulting Group, as well as Custom Scoop – a customizable media monitoring and analysis technology acquired by Carma International in 2016. Preceding that, Brian served as executive director of Senator Bob Dole’s New Hampshire primary campaign.

    Brian earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire, where he served as student body president. Between semesters, he learned the value of hard work installing irrigation systems with Gilford Well.

    Brian has served on the board of directors of the University of New Hampshire Foundation as a member (2010-2020), chair (2019-2020) and advisor (2020-present). He is also serving as co-chair of UNH’s Capital Campaign. He served on the Board of Trustees at the Brooks School from 2017-2023. Brian and his wife, Loren, live in Meredith, New Hampshire with their golden retriever, Finn.

Patrick J. Kennedy

National Advisory Board

  • The Honorable Patrick J. Kennedy is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the nation’s leading political voice on mental illness, addiction, and other brain diseases. During his 16-year career representing Rhode Island in Congress, he fought a national battle to end medical and societal discrimination against these illnesses, highlighted by his lead sponsorship of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008–and his brave openness about his own health challenges. 

    The son of Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy, he decided to leave Congress not long after his father’s death to devote his career to advocacy for brain diseases and to create a new, healthier life and start a family. He has since founded the Kennedy Forum, which unites the community of mental health, and co-founded One Mind for Research, a global leader in open science collaboration in brain research. Kennedy is also the co-author of “A Common Struggle,” which outlines both his personal story and a bold plan for the future of mental health in America. He is also the co-founder of SAM, Smart Approaches to Marijuana.

Sam MacMaster, Ph.D.

National Advisory Board

  • Samuel A. MacMaster, Ph.D. is an expert in the behavioral health field with over three decades of experience in the design, delivery, and evaluation of substance use and mental health treatment services.He has developed programs across the United States, and in several foreign countries, focused on implementing innovative approaches to meeting the needs of underserved populations. He was the Co-founder of a behavioral health company where he served as the Chief Clinical Officer and built ten residential and twenty outpatient facilities across the southeast; and has held similar executive level positions in two other large national treatment organizations where he was responsible for developing and driving similar rates of growth of quality clinical programming. During his career, Dr. MacMaster has been engaged as a consultant with over a hundred healthcare providers, community-based organizations, local and state governments, and investment groups, lending his expertise to ensure the effective delivery of meaningful treatment solutions to individuals who struggle with addiction and mental illness.

    He is currently an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Meharry Medical College and was previously a member of the faculty of the Department of Family and Community Medicine atBaylor Medical College and the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee. A pioneer in the area of outcome studies and the identification of barriers to engagement in treatment services, he has conducted numerous federally funded research studies and demonstration projects regarding the efficacy of behavioral health approaches. He has been a frequent speaker at academic and industry conferences across the globe and has published three books and over 75 peer-reviewed articles focused on behavioral health topics. He holds a PhD in Social Welfare and a Master of Science in Social Administration fromCase Western Reserve University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Miami of Ohio.Prior to entering academia in 1999, Dr. MacMaster worked as a clinician for over a decade in a variety of treatment settings. A person living in long-term recovery, he remains a tireless advocate for recovery for all individuals who struggle with addiction

George Massengill

President & COO

  • George Massengill, BSSW, LADAC, is a seasoned industry professional with over three decades of diverse experience in healthcare, IT, and business financial sectors. He has held pivotal roles ranging from CEO to Clinical Director in renowned companies such as the University of Tennessee, CRC Health/Acadia Health, and Peninsula Health System.  

    George served as Senior Vice President at Philips Holdings Inc., where he successfully developed relationships with Fortune 500 clients, executed large-scale contracts, and fostered crucial business relationships. Additionally, he has made a significant impact as a board member and CMO/EVP at JourneyPure, establishing treatment services across the nation. Most recently, George served as CEO and President of Evolve Addiction Services, developing comprehensive care and value-based contacting. The program included detox, MAT, outpatient services, partial hospitalization and housing, with a statewide foot print in Tennessee. 

    Throughout his career, George has demonstrated entrepreneurial acumen by starting, buying, and selling several companies. He founded The Wellness Centers, a statewide outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health service, which he sold to Bradford Health in 2003. He then established HealthConnect America, a state-wide and now national company providing in-home mental health, SUD, and case management services, which he sold to Xebec Corp in 2007. George also started Recovery Living Services, offering statewide outpatient and recovery houses, and sold it to CRC/Acadia in 2010. In 2016, he merged Another Chance Recovery and Faith, an inpatient detox and residential facility for men, into The Serenity Center and Network, which he later sold to JourneyPure. 

    In addition to his healthcare ventures, George founded PMR Inc., a technology firm specializing in developing electronic medical records (EMRs) and smart care-driven communication systems for U.S. healthcare. As CEO, he spearheaded the development of trademarks such as MyHealth Card and My Healthrec, creating networks for case management and payment processing for smart card EMR-driven systems. George's extensive experience and innovative contributions have consistently advanced the fields he has engaged with, underscoring his reputation as a multifaceted leader and visionary in the industry. 

Siobhan Morse

National Advisory Board

  • As Product Director for the Behavioral Division at UHS of Delaware, Inc. (UHS), Siobhan Morse is charged
    with spearheading the research, clinical operations management and new product development
    focusing on substance use disorder treatment.
    Ms. Morse holds a Master’s degree in Health Services Administration, and is certified as a Master
    Addiction Counselor, Clinical Research Coordinator and ARISE Interventionist. She regularly presents
    original research worldwide, has published multiple articles in peer reviewed scientific journals, and
    conducts education within the addiction services network in UHS.
    Recently, she presented at the request of the Department of Justice to over 2,000 federal grant
    recipients on treating opioid use disorder (OUD). She contributed a chapter highlighting her lived
    experience with substance use disorder, trauma and mental health to the book, Breakthrough, which
    later won a Book Excellence Award. In recognition of her dedicated work to support Americans who are
    in or seeking recovery, Ms. Morse was presented a Presidential Proclamation in 2020 by the White
    House Office of National Drug Control Policy and Bureau of Justice Administration. She is also currently
    the Chairperson of the DC-Based Partners in Care Network and sits on multiple Federal Bureau of Justice
    Advisory Panels addressing the use of peers as well as equity, diversity and inclusion in the nation’s
    correctional drug treatment programs

Jim Murphy

Chairman & CEO

  • Jim Murphy is President and CEO of Reach!! United, a not-for-profit foundation engaged in our
    nation’s crisis with addiction and rehabilitation. Its mission is to promote urgent action to lower
    the overdose death rate and increase the success rate of treatment programs.


    He also currently serves as a strategic communications consultant at Integrated Strategy Group, a bi-partisan, corporate public affairs firm he Co-Founded with former Congressman Heath Shuler
    in 2018, and an Executive Leadership and Transformational Life Coach.


    Previously, Jim served as President and Managing Partner at DCI Group, a DC-based independent public affairs firm. During his 15-year association with DCI, he provided strategic and management consulting advice to blue-chip corporations and trade
    associations. Among others, his client work spanned the telecommunications, gaming, financial services, and sugar industries.


    As President of DCI from 2007 to 2012, he was the day-to-day manager of the firm, overseeing Finance and Accounting, Legal and HR functions. From 2002 to 2007, he managed DCI’s 50 state network of grassroots, PR, and government affairs consultants.


    Jim left DCI in June of 2012 to run the Republican National Committee’s Independent Expenditure campaign on behalf of Romney for President – a $45 million-dollar paid advertising
    effort in battleground states. In 2016 he was National Political Director for Donald Trump and is honored to have worked as a Senior Advisor for Bob Dole in both his 1988 and 1996 presidential campaigns.


    Jim graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 1978 with a B.A. in Economics. He also has an Executive Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership.

    “Murph” is a Rhode Island native currently residing in Old Town Alexandria, VA.

James Murphy

Director Of Operations

  • James Murphy graduated from the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) as a Distinguished Military Graduate and commissioned as an Officer into the United States Army Infantry in 2015. After initial training at Ft. Benning, Georgia he served the rest of his active-duty time at Schofield Barrack, Hawaii. His leadership positions during his tour of duty included Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader, Battalion Land and Ammunition Manager, and Company Executive Officer. His time in the Army as an Officer demanded that he set the example for others to follow and maintain uncompromising ethical and moral standards.

    After deciding to get out to start a family, James was honorably discharged from the Army in 2019. He transitioned to a Chief of Staff role at Integrated Strategy Group (ISG), a bi-partisan public relations firm that specializes in government relations, public affairs, business solutions, and international consulting. In this position, James further honed his project management skills and increased revenue for the company by bringing clear and defined strategies to complex problems. This included bringing in subject matter experts as needed and establishing roles and responsibilities for team members across multiple clients.

    Discovering an interest in politics and the fast-paced environment inherent in political campaigns, James worked as a Political Consultant in the 2022 election cycle for JLM Consulting. Here he helped manage political campaigns for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and a campaign for Attorney General in Arizona.

    After the election cycle he pursued further professional development and enrolled in an Electro-Mechanical Technologies Program at The Refrigeration School (RSI). James completed the program by taking classes at night while simultaneously working as an HVAC Service Technician for Collins Comfort Masters, a reputable Residential Air Conditioning Company in the Phoenix Valley. In this role, James often worked 12+ hour days in the summertime in Phoenix, AZ repairing gas furnace and heat pump systems, and increasing revenue for the company through Sales.

    In November 2024, James joined the Reach!! United team and now serves as Director of Operations, bringing his leadership, project management skills, and diverse professional experience to his new mission. Reach!! United is a national not-for-profit organization that advocates for better policy in combating the growing Opioid and Substance Abuse Crisis. Reach!! United is committed to reducing the number of deaths by drug overdose and improve the access and quality of care for Americans with Opioid-Use-Disorder (OUD).

    James resides in Phoenix, AZ with the love of his life, and is the father to a 3-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter.

Leon Evans

National Advisory Board

  • For over 40 years, Leon Evans has worked with community partners in public health and safety to provide innovative approaches to hope and healing. Evans's internationally recognized programs promote a highly effective, cooperative spirit across health, law enforcement, judicial, and nonprofit organizations.

    Leon led The Center for Health Care Services (CHCS) in San Antonio, Texas, serving as CEO of the renowned organization that improved thousands of lives. Under his leadership, CHCS helped people avoid jail and long-term hospital stays, improved outcomes, and reduced health care costs, saving $95 million in public funding. Leon hosted notable figures such as Obama Drug Czars Michael Botticelli and Gill Kerlikowske, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, as well as officials from seven countries and hundreds of communities, who visited to learn about CHCS’s community collaborations, diversion services, cost benefits, and positive outcomes.

    Leon has held numerous leadership roles at local, state, and national levels, including Chairperson of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Disability Directors. He was recognized by CNN as one of our nation's "Mental Wellness Warriors" and has received honors such as the American Psychiatric Association Gold Award and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare Directors Service Excellence Award.

    Since retiring as CEO of CHCS, Leon continues to consult and advocate on crisis response, jail diversion, and homelessness. He currently serves as a member of the National Quality Partners' "National Opioid Taskforce," among other organizations.

Sheriff Mark Lamb

National Advisory Board

  • Mark Lamb, known as "America's Sheriff," served as the 24th Sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, from 2017 to 2024. During his tenure, he earned national recognition for prioritizing public safety, advocating constitutional principles, and addressing critical issues like border security and the opioid crisis. Under his leadership, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office implemented innovative crime prevention programs, led specialized narcotics and anti-smuggling teams, and partnered with federal agencies through the 287(g) program to enforce immigration laws. In 2024, he pursued the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, aiming to bring his expertise in border security and fiscal responsibility to Washington.

    Born in Hilo, Hawaii, and raised in diverse locales, including Manila and Panama, Mark developed a deep appreciation for America’s values and freedoms. He graduated from Chandler High School in Arizona in 1990 and later achieved valedictorian honors at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Academy. Before law enforcement, he owned small businesses and gained experience that shaped his practical approach to leadership. His policing career was distinguished by accolades such as Rookie, Officer, and Detective of the Year, as well as leading high-impact operations, including dismantling one of Arizona’s most dangerous gangs.

    Mark’s empowering leadership style, rooted in his motto “Fear Not, Do Right,” inspired his staff and community alike. Beyond law enforcement, he remains a strong advocate for tackling national and regional issues. Mark lives in San Tan Valley, Arizona, with his wife of 30 years, Janel, and is a proud father of five and grandfather to four.

Jay Samuels DDS

National Advisory Board

  • Jay Samuels DDS is a wellness dentist practicing in North Bethesda, Maryland for the past 25 years. His focus is on functional and comprehensive restorative, implant and cosmetic dentistry, whole body health and the oral-systemic link.

    A past International Officer and Executive Board member for the Alpha Omega Dental Organization, Dr. Samuels has been a board member for the Sidney J. Malawer Memorial Melanoma Foundation. He has previously served on an advisory board for the Washington Capitals Hockey Organization and is a mentor for the University of Maryland Football Team.

    Dr. Samuels is a fierce advocate for those suffering from mental health and addiction and provides dental care to those with special needs in Montgomery County, Maryland. He is recognized for his work with the Alpha Omega-Henry Schein Cares Holocaust Survivors Oral Health Program, and volunteers with Catholic Charities Mission of Mercy providing dental care to underserved communities in Maryland, DC and Virginia as well as internationally.

    Dr. Samuels holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland at College Park, a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from University of Maryland at Baltimore, and a General Practice and Surgical Residency from the Miami Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center.

    Dr. Samuels lives in Kensington, MD and has 3 amazing children--Alec, Max and Coley.

Heath Shuler

National Advisory Board

  • Heath is a Co-Founder of ISG. He has a unique and distinguished career as a 3-term Democrat Member of Congress (NC-11), a Fortune 250 corporate executive, a successful business entrepreneur, and as an NFL quarterback. He served as the SVP, Federal Government Affairs for Duke Energy Corporation, where he led a team engaged in policy development, analysis, advocacy, and strategic planning. While serving in the US House of Representatives, he Co-Chaired the Blue Dog Coalition, and served on the US House Budget, Small Business, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Natural Resources Committees. 

A Prescription for Addiction

PHASE 1

BEDS

AND

MEDS

Reduce the opioid overdose death rate by ensuring easy access to free opioid overdose reversal medications.

1

Far too many individuals overdose while waiting for a treatment bed. This gap in care can be addressed by implementing temporary respite bed facilities that offer same-day admission.

2

We will fight current restrictions on Suboxone availability, allowing patients to manage withdrawal symptoms safely during the initial stages of recovery.

3

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