"Leading With Example"

In 2006 Amy Smart saw her life being possessed by mind-altering substances. Addiction had led her down a dark road that ended with a five-year prison sentence. But she knew she had to change her life, learn to live life on whatever terms came her way. She promised her family and her children that Amy would be part of the addiction recovery solution and no longer part of the problem when she came home. She established Riverside Recovery Services from the ground up, growing from a small office in Chesapeake, Ohio, in 2015 to four counties across the state of Ohio. August 2022 marks sixteen years for Amy being clean and sober, and with her personal story, she is determined to transform lives wherever she goes.

Some of the qualities that Amy encompasses have transformed Riverside Recovery Services into what it is today. Amy continues to seek input from others. She recognizes that there are things she could be doing better and tirelessly work to meet those goals. Women in leadership positions aren’t afraid to see a situation from various angles, and Amy is no different. She attempts to understand a situation as organically as possible by asking the right questions at the right time rather than bending a situation to her own will. Whether something is going perfectly or disaster strikes, Amy is always willing to accept the consequences of her decisions. She won’t play the victim or try to pass the buck onto someone else.

Amy works hard to build up other female leaders; she understands how difficult the road is and has spent tireless hours assisting other women in developing business plans to support the dreams they have for their businesses. These qualities have shown Amy’s staff not to be afraid of pursuing dreams and that culture that transformed and supported Riverside’s growth.

When women entrepreneurs succeed, they are more likely to invest back into their families and community – into education, nutrition, well-being, and children’s health. Moreover, their businesses are more likely to provide necessary services and opportunities to their communities. Amy fully understands that she had support from other female leaders along the way, and she has used what she learned to give other women opportunities. Amy lives by the advice someone once gave her “The best way to support women in business as a female business leader is to share your knowledge and pay it forward. If your past mistakes or successes can help other women avoid similar mistakes or provide them with a great idea, then you've made a positive impact with little effort.” As a leader, Amy works side by side with her staff and has never asked them to do anything she wouldn’t do herself. Her team sees that often encouraging them to step into leadership positions themselves.

According to the CDC, alcohol and drug overdoses have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. The pandemic increased pressure on families and individuals and, at the same time, made it difficult, if not virtually impossible, to receive timely treatment for drug and alcohol use disorders. There is currently a backlog of people needing recovery services, such as those available at Riverside Recovery Services. Substance use disorders increase the chances of becoming severely ill from a COVID-19 infection. At the same time, data shows that there have been more fatal drug overdoses since the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend highlights the need for safe, secure addiction treatment.

Approximately 46% of US adults have experienced or witnessed substance abuse among family members. Further, 18% of these cases involved alcohol only, while another 18% were directly impacted by combined drug and alcohol abuse. With so many families in crisis, it’s more important than ever to reach out to Riverside Recovery Services to find out how to get help for yourself or someone you love. Recovery programs restore mental clarity and physical well-being, allowing clients to take the first steps toward healing broken relationships. “We see our clients’ making strides in their recovery goals, gaining back mental clarity and physical well-being. To us that is achievement. Many past clients of Riverside Recovery Services have gone onto to become employees and are living the life they have dreamed about for so many years,” says Amy. WL