Ripple’s team is made up of peers in recovery, people who have faced the challenge of living with a diagnosed mental illness, or an addiction, or sometimes both. We understand that our recovery is a journey, not a destination… But we also believe that no journey is a true success without the company of good people to travel with along the way.
Chris Pochna: Acting Board Treasurer
Chris is Peer with lived experience in both mental health services and addiction recovery. Her journey started in 1988 at the age of 8 years old when she started to battle anorexia mirabilis. Also known as holy anorexia or inedia prodigiosa, an eating disorder in which one starves themselves to acquire some level of spiritual enlightenment or growth. More about Chris
Desiree Barton: Board Secretary, Recovery Support Specialist
Desiree is a Peer with lived experience within the mental health and addiction services system. She has come along way since age 7 when she first started talk therapy but also acknowledges that there are still obstacles to overcome, and some of those at times can be overwhelming. She has first-hand experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD, Fibromyalgia, and Diabetes. More about Desiree
Marianne Jensen: Board President
Marianne has a long history of lived experience, and she had received treatment for depression, PTSD from a sexual assault that occurred when she was much younger. Despite these events in her life, she moved on, obtained a degree, and started her family. Later she was given a diagnosis of ADHD after having difficulty maintaining concentration on her job, staying at her desk, and not interrupting during meetings. Her co-workers immediately noticed the difference when she began taking medication without telling anyone. More about Marianne
Jeffrey Santo: Executive Director, Recovery Support Specialist
Jeffrey is a Peer who started his journey into the mental health services system in the second grade. First diagnosed with hyperactivity disorder in 1982 and like so many other children, prescribed Ritalin. When that failed to work he was given Haldol, in all they tried 5 different drugs to solve what they saw as a problem. It was not until 2011, nearly thirty years later he would be correctly diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. More about Jeffrey
