Staff
Assistant Director
Mark Cukurs
Mark Cukurs
Assistant Director
Mark Cukurs serves as the assistant director at the Center For Hope. He is a Certified Peer Recovery Coach, a certified supervisor for other Peer Recovery Coaches, as well as a mentor with the IDOC “Free to Succeed” mentorship program. He is also a recovery coach trainer with Recovery Idaho. He is a person in long term recovery and strives to be living proof to others that recovery is possible. He is proud to live in the “Great State of Idaho” and enjoys fishing with his kids. Mark looks for opportunities to advocate for the recovery community and reduce the stigma associated with addiction.
Executive Director
Nancy Espeseth
Nancy Espeseth
Executive Director
Nancy is currently the director of the Center for Hope in Idaho Falls. Nancy is passionate about working with people who have addiction and or mental health issues and is in recovery herself. Prior to this Nancy worked for two years as a case manager at the Behavioral Health Crises Center where she frequently worked with individuals that were suicidal or detoxing from drugs/alcohol. The previous 15 years she worked for the Idaho Department of Corrections.
Certified Peer Recovery Coach/ Peer Support Specialist
Grace Breshears
Grace feels that she is honored to work with the team at Center for Hope. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Coach as well as a Certified Peer Support Specialist. She is proud to be a Wood Court graduate, where she still mentors others. Grace is proud mother of 3 children , 2 step kids , and 4 grandchildren. In her free time she manages a sober living house. She also loves spending time with family , and being outdoors. Grace is always looking to try new things in recovery !!
Certified Peer Support/ Certified Peer Recovery Coach
Donna Johnson
Donna Johnson, I am a Certified Peer Recovery Coach/Certified Peer Support Specialist. I am also a Mentor for the I.D.O.C., Free 2 Succeed program. I excel in helping people find their paths to recovery. I take great pride in continuing to work with many of the people I help. Born and raised in Idaho Falls, I have 3 children and 7 grandchildren. I like spending time with my family and doing activities outdoors. My biggest fuel for passion in life is helping others get their lives to where they want to be. Nothing gives me more pride in doing what I should be, than someone stopping me and telling me that I changed their life.
Recovery Coach
Michelle Smoley
My name is Michelle Smoley and I have lived in Idaho Falls for most of my life. Proud to be a graduate of the Bonneville County Drug Court program. Volunteering in our community is something I love. I enjoy mentoring others and helping them find happiness in sobriety. Clean and sober for 4 1/2 years now . When I have free time I like to hike and spend time with my kids and granddaughter who are my absolute pride and joy I am honored to be a part of the Center For Hope team!!
Certified Provisional Peer Recovery Coach
Darius Carr
My name is Darius A. Carr. I am honored to be a new Recovery Coach at Center For Hope. As others showed me that recovery was possible, I hope to do the same for others. Here at Center For Hope I will be able to share my lived experience to help others. I am a proud alumni of Renaissance Ranch Treatment. Currently also a student at Idaho State University.
Board Presidency
Board President
Gavin W. Wells CADC
Gavin Wells is currently a CADC counselor and has provided addiction counseling for the past 14 years. Gavin is married with three grown children and five grandchildren who he adores with all his heart.
“The reason I decided to get on the board for the Center for HOPE was because of my passion for recovery and the desire to help bridge the gap between the recovery community and the community as a whole. I have seen the need for this for many years and I welcome the chance to be a part of doing just that. Addiction and mental health problems are not just the problems of the afflicted and their families but also problems of society as a whole and the solution resides with a collaboration between society and those who are intimately affected."
Board Vice-President
Anne Johnson
Anne Johnson has been involved in homeless and recovery activities for over 25 years and is a Family Development Specialist. She is currently managing the free to the community FASI GED program. She has been married for 43 years, has 3 children, 4 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
“I am on the board because I believe in people and that everyone has value even if they have made mistakes in their past. I envision the Center for Hope as a welcoming, safe, non-judgmental place where someone can breathe for a moment and find a path that works for them.”
Secretary/Treasurer
April Crandall, LSW
April Crandall serves on the Center for Hope Board Secretary/Treasurer. She is a Licensed Social Worker and provides contract work for Rehabilitative Health Service (Behavioral and Medical Health Provider) in Program and Policy Development, and Grant Management. She has background in behavioral and medical health beginning in 1991, including statewide and agency program/policy development, addiction/recovery services, individual skills training, groups, developmentally disabled programs, and elder care centers. April enjoys traveling and time with her husband, kids, and grandkids.
“I joined the Center for Hope Board to support a program that genuinely embraces recovery. So many with addiction and mental health struggles experience loneliness, self-recrimination, and shame. The Center for Hope offers a place to be a part of something, to connect, to learn, to heal, to help others, and start life anew. Those embracing recovery are heros in strength and authenticity. I learn from them. I’m grateful to contribute to a program that provides a pathway of hope.”
Board Meetings
The Board of Directors meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 2 PM at the Center for Hope. Check the calendar for any changes to Board meeting dates or times.
Board of Directors
"When possible, half of the board shall be composed of members who have experience with addiction and/or mental illness and are in active recovery." - Center for Recovery Bylaws
| Gavin Wells, CADC gwellsnji@live.com President, Padron Counseling CADA Counselor, In Recovery |
| Anne Johnson annejohnson5555@gmail.com Vice- President, Director FASI GED Program - Recovery Advocate |
| April Crandall, LSW aprilc@rhscares.com Secretary/Treasurer, Contract at RHS - Policy and Systems - Recovery Advocate |
| Autumn Furman Navigation Services - Recovery Advocate (211 Care-line) |
| Dr. Aaron Harris, PHD Clinical Psychologist, Harris Psychology & Healthy Care Solutions, Recovery Advocate |
| Crista Henderson Bonneville County Social Services Director, Recovery Advocate |
| Sam Hulse Bonneville County Sheriff Department, Recovery Advocate |
| Paula McAllister In Recovery |
|
Aimee Austin Bannock County Treatment Courts In recovery |
| Joyce Cumpton IDOC, Probation Officer, Recovery Advocate |
Staff Contracting Agency
|
DeVere Hunt Rehabilitative Health Services Owner, Staff Contractor |
|
Nancy Espeseth Executive Director , Center For Hope In recovery |
|
Mark Cukurs Assistant Director , Center For Hope In recovery |