09/09/2026
Today, we are sharing an important message from our President and CEO, George Margoles. 💜
For the past seven years, George has led Recovery Connections with vision, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to the recovery community. Under his leadership, what began as a gathering of recovery-minded stakeholders has grown into an organization serving thousands of individuals each year across Florida.
Effective immediately, George will transition from President/CEO to Chief Community Strategy Officer. He will continue supporting Recovery Connections during the transition to a new CEO and remains deeply committed to our mission and the communities we serve.
We are incredibly grateful for George’s leadership and all he has done to help build Recovery Connections into the organization it is today. We look forward to continuing this work together and to what the future holds.
Please read George’s full message below:
Hello everyone,
On September 21, 2019—seven years ago—we gathered at the Greater Orlando Recovery Community Organization Symposium at the Baptist Church off I-4 with more than 300 recovery-minded stakeholders. From that beginning, we created Recovery Connections, which has grown into a leading Recovery Community Organization in the state of Florida and across the United States.
Over these years, we have helped approximately 10,000 individuals, including 2,500 in 2025 alone. We opened five Recovery Centers in four counties, made possible through the generosity and support of Central Florida Cares, and now provide approximately 25% of all peer services performed in the state of Florida, based on DCF’s 2025 presented data. Our Help Line has served roughly 32,000 in-bound callers needing support, and our staff has grown to more than 40 team members. Our systems, procedures, and operations have never been stronger, and the current operations management team has done an outstanding job creating the improvements needed for long-term success. We should all be very proud of what we have contributed to this growth and impact over the past seven years.
Recently, I had the wonderful pleasure of spending a couple of weeks in Tuscany, Italy, with my wife, Sandy. During that time, I came to an important personal realization: Sandy and I need to spend more time together, and I need to spend more of my life with her rather than continuing the 50-plus-hour weeks I have devoted to Recovery Connections.
I believe the organization is in a very strong position to meet the needs of today and the opportunities of the future. With that as the backdrop, I have decided to step down as President/CEO and assume the role of Chief Community Strategy Officer, effective immediately. During the transition to a new CEO, I will continue assisting with day-to-day organizational management alongside Robert Browning, Heather Crockett, Stephanie Marsan, board member Judge Jerri Collins, and Board Chair Lui Delgado.
I want to thank my wife of 42 years for supporting and understanding the time, energy, and commitment this work has required. I also want to extend my deepest thanks and gratitude to Maria Bledsoe and Trinity Schwan from Central Florida Cares for believing this could be done, supporting us along the way, and continuing to have confidence in the mission. I am grateful to Kelly Welch from Seminole County Government for all she has done to work with us, and to Dr. Tom Hall, head of the Orange County Drug Free Coalition, for his support over the years. I also want to thank the Recovery Connections Board and its many members’ overtime; without their help and support, we would not be where we are today. I especially want to recognize Carol Cowan, who served as our Board Chair for five years.
There are so many more people to thank than this note can hold, but I know in my heart that you know who you are. Thank you all.
I am extremely confident in Recovery Connections’ continued ability to serve the community, grow in its mission, and build a long-term sustainable future.
Thank you again. It has been one of the great honors of my life to lead this mission and to work alongside the dedicated, hard-working people who make Recovery Connections what it is today.
With Gratitude,
George Margoles
