Leadership
Matt Johnson - Executive Director
Matt's recovery journey began in 2011, going through traditional treatment in Minnesota. Matt then got enrolled in a halfway house program, and continued into sober living within his first year of sobriety.
"For me, having that continuum of care available was everything for my security while still growing and learning in early recovery."
Matt's professional experience includes advertising and sales, but Matt changed his career path towards helping with non-profit missions in 2017. Having previously served in multiple non-profits with missions surrounding recovery, homelessness, criminal rehabilitation, and domestic violence, Matt's passion has always been helping those affected by alcoholism and addiction.
Matt has been married to his wife Kelsey since 2021. He enjoys backpacking, the outdoors, and travel in his free time.
Karli Schmitz - Housing Coordinator
Karli’s recovery journey began in 2018 when she entered Solutions Women’s Sober Living Program in Oshkosh. Karli is a graduate of that sober living program and continued to stay involved with the organization. She fulfilled many volunteer roles and went on to become the program coordinator of that sober living program. She also assisted with the sober living expansion project in 2020.
Karli has professional experience in residential inpatient treatment for substance use disorders. Karli obtained her Associates Degree of Applied Science in 2022 and currently holds state licensure as a Substance Abuse Counselor-IT. She is currently working towards her Bachelor of Social Work degree at The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Karli enjoys spending time with her son, niece and nephews, and siblings. She also enjoys going to concerts and festivals with her son & friends, and long backpacking trips in Upper Michigan during the summer months.
Dylan Capelle - Board President
During the summer of 2019, I was attempting sobriety for the first (and hopefully last) time. I hoped to find recovery because my circumstances were bleak and I wanted change. I ended up finding the recovery community in Oshkosh, and found a new way to live life. They taught me that recovery didn't need to be boring or bleak - it was something that could transform and enhance my life.
As my recovery transformed, I found service to be a major component to grow my recovery platform. Service has been a great way to take my recovery to the next level, so I dive into it whenever possible. I love the mission and spirit of New Dawn Recovery Services - it parallels the experience I had in my recovery journey.
"I find that recovery is not for those who want it - its for those that put in the work and do it!"
Sean Elliott - Board Treasurer
Coming Soon!
Matt Clark - Board Secretary
Matt started his recovery journey in August of 2022, where he was a client at Nova Counseling Services in Oshkosh. Following his completion of the Nova program, Matt stayed in Oshkosh and became a resident of the Solutions Sober Living Program. After 5 months of being a resident of Sober Living, Matt was selected to become a House Manager for Solutions Sober Living. This was an obligation Matt would fulfill over the next 9 months. Life came full circle, as 7 months after he finished house managing Solutions offered him a job to be a Peer Recovery Specialist. Matt has a lot of gratitude towards being able to work in a field he is so passionate about; recovery.
In his spare time, Matt enjoys playing volleyball, disc golf, going to concerts, and hanging out with his friends. Most importantly, Matt has a deep appreciation for service work and volunteering. Something that was imprinted on him early on in his recovery, Matt looks for how he can contribute to life and his fellows.
Dan Liddy - Development Chair
Coming Soon!
Allen Meser - Board Member At Large
Coming Soon!
Jesse Welty - House Manager - Foxtrot House
My recovery journey began 11/01/2022. I spent a short period of time in a detox facility in my hometown of Ashland, Wisconsin. On 11/09/2022 I arrived at Nova Counseling Services in Oshkosh, Wisconsin where I went on to complete a 28-day inpatient program. From there I went on to NDRS (Peer Supported Living) on 12/07/2022. Once there I completed the six-month program and moved on to the next step through NDRS (Independent Sober Living) where I applied for a house manager position and was granted that opportunity.
I choose to try to continue to be involved with NDRS to be able to give back to the program which, along with 12-step programs, helped me build a solid foundation upon which my recovery can grow. The chance to give back to others the tools that were so freely given to me seemed very important to me.
"Faith and Fear both demand you to believe in something you can't see. You choose."
Josh Thiel - House Manager - Delta House
In 2017, Josh began seeking recovery services for his addiction. Using for over ten years, Josh reached the end of the road, and could no longer live with or without substances. Over the next five years, Josh hopped in and out of various treatment programs, counseling services, and found trouble with the criminal justice system. In 2023, Josh once again found himself in trouble with the authorities, and sought treatment services knowing the path he was on would only get worse. Josh enrolled in the Peer-Support Sober Living program at New Dawn Recovery Services, and began to thrive. Focused on rebuilding his personal relations and like skills, Josh found employment, began giving back to the community, and connected with others in recovery in a way he had not attempted previously. By being vulnerable and open to change, Josh transformed his perspective on recovery from a "task to complete" to a lifestyle for the future. Josh graduated the PSL program in October 2023, and enrolled in the Independent Sober Living program at New Dawn, sticking around the fellowship that helped him get sober.
Today, Josh serves as a House Manager at New Dawn's PSL program, a supervisor in his field of work, and helps other early in recovery find their footing like he once did. Having over thirteen months of sobriety, Josh serves on a number of recovery-related groups, carrying the message of recovery to those in Oshkosh and the greater Wisconsin area.
"Though no one can go back and make a new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending"
Mike MacCudden - House Manager - Charlie House
Mike started using substances irregularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, with consequences piling up quickly. In 2023, Mike sought help for his addiction for the first time, starting off at Nova Counseling Services. After some bumps in the road, Mike was terminated from their program, and had no where else to go. Mike ended up reaching out for help from New Dawn, and was given another opportunity.
Mike ended up taking advantage that opportunity and never turned back. Soaking up the involvement of the recovery community, and diving into the programming requirements, Mike quickly progressed through the program and graduated in January 2024. Mike enrolled in the Independent Sober Living Program at NDRS, and was hired as a House Manager in June 2024.
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out"
Robert Collier