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Meet Our Speakers
Craig Burnes
was born in Rome, Georgia and
currently lives in Dalton, GA. He is a Certified Peer
Specialist through the Department of Behavioral
Health and Developmental Disabilities. He is a
community mentor with the Georgia Department of
Corrections and services returning citizens through
Dalton’s Project DESTINY. He is a consumer at
Highland Rivers and is very passionate about his prison
and homelessness advocacy. He is not only a
committed graduate of the RESPECT Institute of
Georgia but he also serves as a RESPECT Institute
Community Liaison in Whitfield County, GA. Craig is a
proud father of one beautiful daughter and a proud
grandfather to Alex, Lilly, and Nate.
Craig Burnes, CPS
Community Mentor
DESTINY
Contact: 706.263.8393
Email:
craigburnes@gmail.comBill Carruthers
is a person in long term recovery. He
is a Certified Peer Specialist, certified CIT and is a
Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist.
As one of the original Community Navigation Specialist’s
he works at the Opening Doors to Recovery program.
Mr. Carruthers is also the Director of Savannah
Counseling Service Peer program. He is the program
manager for the Reed House PSR/ Clubhouse program
and is on the Executive Board of Directors for NAMI GA.
Mr. Carruthers is also involved as an advisor to the Board
of Directors for NAMI Savannah and sits as the Chair for
the Pilot of NAMI’s Consumer Council. Bill is a proud
veteran of the United States Navy and he speaks out loud
about recovery because he says he is the evidence that
recovery is possible.
Bill Carruthers, CPS, WHAM, CARES
Program Manager
Gateway Behavioral Health Services
Contact: 912.644.0793
Email:
billy.carruthers@gatewaybhs.org48