Meet the team here at Grace Recovery.
Leah M.
CEO
The world of addiction in terms of support, mentoring and sober living are Leah’s passion and priority. Leah pours her heart into the community that has given her her best friend back, her sister Becca. Leah is committed to be of service and to never stop learning while on her mission to help and empower those struggling with the disease of addiction and the ones that love them. Through Leah’s foundation, which is built on principles and personal experience, she truly embodies and shares what it means to live a joyful life of recovery. By the Grace of God, Leah and her sister, Becca, are able to dedicate their life’s work to helping others fight to find spiritual fulfillment and live a life of purpose.
Laurel T.
COO
Laurel joined Grace Recovery as a co-owner in 2020 in their mission to support women in achieving long-term sobriety. Laurel was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and attended the United States Air Force Academy and St. Edward’s University.
After injuries and surgeries that ended her college soccer career, Laurel spiraled into her addiction, which led to years of drinking and drug use. In 2012, she entered treatment in Austin, Texas. Laurel has 7+ years of working in the recovery industry and has dedicated her career to helping individuals to regain peace and find purpose in their lives.
Laurel is an experienced operations manager who specializes in project management, administration, and customer service initiatives aligned with performance objectives. She is known for her analytical approach in streamlining and optimizing efficiencies within an organization. She provides a resourceful approach while collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop client-centric solutions. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and will complete her Master’s of Business Administration in 2021.
Ally F
Client Care Manager
Ally is a born and raised Austinite and found herself in the midst of addiction at a young age, entering her first treatment center at the age of 17. Feeling like she never got the “handbook” to life, she struggled to endure and cope with early life events. Subsequently, her teenage years
and nearly all of her twenties were spent in the frightening spiral of drug addiction and alcoholism, which provided her comfort to deal with unresolved obstacles that had accumulated over time.
Ally got sober in October of 2019 through an inpatient treatment center. This coupled with dedication and commitment to work the 12 steps, Ally began gaining traction in her sobriety.
She found joy in working with others and sharing the message of her personal experience with other women that were attempting to regain their lives over the disease of addiction.
Ally received an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from St. Edwards in 2016 with a concentration in Marketing, and 4+ years of experience in the entertainment industry in Austin, TX. Her strengths in the workplace include client relationship management, creative problem solving, and diligent organization and communication.
Today, Ally lives a sober, happy, joyous life, free from the constraints that she knew before. She has many interests including spending time with her Great Dane named Lilly, music, collage, jewelry fabrication, fashion and design, and taking care of her physical, emotional and mental health through physical movement.
Alex M
Client Coordinator
Born and raised in Houston, Alex grew up in a dysfunctional home with an alcoholic mother. At 14, she used and drank for the first time and knew that she had “arrived”. This was the beginning of a horrifying addiction that stole everything from her including her morals, values, relationships, and everything worth while in her life.
By the time she was 23 she had been to 4 treatment centers, 3 psychiatric hospitals, and numerous jails. On March 14th, 2019 she found herself in a jail cell for the last time addicted to meth, heroin, Xanax, crack, and alcohol. On her way to prison, she was miserable and in despair experiencing mental and emotional agony beyond anything words can explain.
At this point she finally realized the extent of her powerlessness and was ready to fully surrender control. After 17 months of being in prison, she was released and now centers her life around God and service to others. Her life is devoted to giving what she has freely received and as a result she lives a truly fulfilling life filled with joy, peace, serenity, happiness, unity and fellowship. These are the things which now fill the bottomless void she helplessly tried to fill with drugs. They are priceless, and she truly loves life today.
What a gift!
Emily A
House Manager Grace 2
Emily was born in raised out in West Texas, seemingly just a normal, good kid. She did well in school, went to college, graduated, got a good job, and got engaged. These “boxes” were kept checked and seen so she didn’t have to talk with anyone about the emptiness going on inside of her.
She filled this void with whatever she could get her hands on, mistakenly calling it “a good time,” and even “love.” At the peak of her and her fiancee’s addictions, he made the decision to end his life. This catapulted her to seek help and go to treatment out in Austin, TX.
Emily found the rooms of AA and, for the first time, had to face that emptiness she’d been running from for so long and fill it with something other than drugs and alcohol.
Today, she is a grateful recovering alcoholic/addict. Recovery has given her a wealthy network of skills and people that keep her from being alone in this good fight. More importantly, she has the opportunity to walk with other women in their journeys towards finding sobriety.
Evan T
Assistant House Manager Grace 2
Evan Leigh is from Houston, Texas. She is a former professional ballerina, but she stopped dancing to take care of her mental and physical health. She attended Driftwood Recovery in June of 2019, and has been sober ever since.
She now resides in Austin at Grace Recovery as an assistant house manager. She now dances through life and sobriety, one step at a time.
Watermelon
Chief Dog Officer
Personal problems plaguing your mind seem to melt away the moment Watermelon is welcomed to your side for a cuddle. This sweet little miss is a bundle of joy, super smart and loves to love. Watermelon loves meditation in the morning,curling up with you while you catch up on all your favourite TV show, listen to the details of your day or simply lay next to the hammock after you unwind from a long day. Simply petting a pup releases feel good hormones called oxytocin and serotonin which help calm you down and alleviate your mood. Watermelon loves to be of assistance with helping you release feel good feelings!
Founder
Chief Dog Officer Grace 2
All Founder Girl wants in life is more roommates to love! Seven years ago, while Emily was going to school out in Oklahoma, she ‘found her’ and took her in. The rest is history. She’s seen her owner through many hardships over the years, and has always been the cornerstone of strength.
There’s is never one day too bad where a walk outside, a cuddle on the couch, or galavanting around The Green Belt with Founder can’t fix. Her smile and love for life can give perspective on how to appreciate what you have right here, right now, is enough.
