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Meet Our Team

At Minnesota Recovery Connection (MRC), our staff and volunteers are the heart of our mission—to strengthen the recovery community through peer-to-peer support, public education, and advocacy. As Minnesota’s first and oldest Recovery Community Organization (RCO), we bring decades of experience walking beside individuals and families as they pursue recovery in all its forms.

Our team is inclusive, relatable, resourceful, engaging, dedicated, and trustworthy—a reflection of the diverse communities we serve. Many of us hold lived experience with substance use disorder and recovery, which grounds our work in authenticity, compassion, and hope. We understand that recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all, and we’re here to meet people where they are with empathy, respect, and unwavering support.

Together, we strive to make ongoing recovery a more accessible experience—filling gaps in traditional systems of care, fostering relationships through human connection, and helping individuals and families navigate every pathway toward healing. Because when the journey is ongoing, the support should be too.

Inspired by Compassion, Empowered by Connection

The MRC team is made up of professionals, peers, and volunteers who embody our belief that recovery happens through relationship. From peer recovery coaches and navigators to community educators and advocates, each person on our staff plays a vital role in removing barriers, restoring lives, and empowering enduring recovery.

We are proud to work alongside passionate individuals who bring both skill and lived experience to every interaction. Whether providing one-on-one support, leading recovery initiatives, or building partnerships across Minnesota, our team is united by a shared vision: a world where recovery from addiction is understood, embraced, and enjoyed by all.

please contact us at (612) 584-4158
Cynthia Munguia

Executive Director

Department Directors

Caddy Frink

Director of Programs

Sarah Kemp

Director of Community Relations

Darnell Cox

Director of Operations

Edward Hovelman

Bilingual Programs Director

Peer Services Department

Metro Team

Alicia Doty

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

Kimberlee Lawson

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

Tom Ohren

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

Wendy Hack

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

Lorraine Lynch

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

Molly Sinclair

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

Jesus Grijalva

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

Americorps Service

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LaVonna Johnson

Recovery Corps Heading Home Navigator

Josie Olson

Recovery Corps Recovery Navigator

Rachel Lien

Recovery Corps Recovery Navigator

Executive Division

Cynthia Munguia

Executive Director

Sarah Kemp

Director

Caddy Frink

Director

Darnell Cox

Director

Headshots taken by Ryan Brown from Brown & Company Studios