GACSB_Program_2017

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:

Bill 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: