Meet Our Staff

Tara began work with addiction recovery support six years ago, as a volunteer right here at the Turning Point Center. As a Peer Recovery Coach and an Outreach Peer Support Specialist at the Chittenden Clinic, she helped folks on Medication-Assisted Treatment find support for their recovery. (That long sentence is the fancy way of saying she’s just awesome.) She is currently a Peer Recovery Coach at the Emergency Department at UVMMC. Tara is a trained group facilitator, has started several recovery groups and plans on continuing her education in Human Services. She has a strong interest in holistic healing and human behavior. Fun fact! Her Pomeranian, Honey, loves to do yoga. Downward Dog, anyone?

Michael, a Vermont native, has co-owned several businesses in music and video production. He works as a freelance video special effects editor on historical documentaries and is also a photographer and watercolor artist. He’s incredibly generous with his time and talents and it continues to amaze us (At a recent auction he donated a watercolor landscape he painted that utterly took our breath away). Michael has served as a Peer Recovery Coach through the Turning Point Center for eight years and presently works in the UVMMC Emergency Department as a Peer Recovery Coach. When not on the board of the Howard Center, he is reading the user manuals for his new cameras. Come meet him and see why we can’t do without him!

Christie Holmes, a native Vermonter, is devoted to helping our community access essential recovery services. She has 15+ years of marketing and communications experience and loves helping organizations grow and expand. She joined TPCCC in October 2023 as the Director of Marketing and Development, where she oversees donor management, fundraising programs, website, print materials, public relations, and social media. Christie is creative, dedicated, and passionate about making a difference, ensuring families and individuals can access vital recovery services. She loves the outdoors and can be found on a mountain hiking, skiing, biking, or in her garden harvesting fresh-cut flowers she loves to share with others.

Emily has deep compassion and love for Recovery work. As Coaching Services Coordinator, Emily spends her days matching people with Recovery Coaches and developing strong bonds with our community. She has more than 15 years of experience in management and has been a Recovery Coach for the Turning Point Center since 2021. Originally hailing from Des Moines, IA, Emily lives in Burlington with her fiancé, her french bulldog (Bea Arthur) and her two cats, Lucien and Charles. For fun, she loves to go hiking, bake, and spend time with friends.

Cam is originally from Baltimore, MD. When he moved to Burlington in 2012 he immediately fell in love with its beauty and strong sense of community. While getting his undergraduate degree, he volunteered and worked at the Center in various positions including the Emergency Dept. Recovery Coaching Program Supervisor and Assistant Director before assuming the role Executive Director. "I have been gifted the great experience of helping others find recovery," says Cam. "It is my goal to help the Center follow its mission to the fullest.” He knows that anyone can achieve a lasting recovery no matter how unattainable it may feel.

Mishka is grateful to work for the Turning Point because it gives her an opportunity to give back to an organization that was there for her when she needed help. Born in Vermont, she lived in Key West, northern California, and Washington DC, before returning home to be closer to family. In her past life, she worked extensively in fine dining and as a wedding planner. When she’s not acting as a recovery coach, you can find her slinging amazing eats at Bramble in Essex Junction. Mishka loves to cook for friends and to dote on her beloved niece and nephew.

When Krista Marzewski walked through the doors of The Turning Point Center she embraced all services and programs offered here. Krista found her tribe- others in recovery who are looking for a non-judgmental, safe and supportive environment through which to heal. Keeping her recovery first, upon completing her 200 hours of yoga teacher training with Story Yoga, Krista began volunteering once a week teaching a Y12SR (yoga class combined with a 12-step topic discussion meeting). She then became a Peer Support Specialist and later, the Development Coordinator. Keeping herself in the middle of her tribe, she’s able to combine her passion for teaching yoga to people in recovery and to share her experience, strength and hope with others.

Olivia brings enormous empathy to her job because of lived experience with addiction and homelessness. Originally from Boston, she worked in customer service for ten years, where she often found herself being used as a therapeutic sounding board with all kinds of people. Her role at the Turning Point brings together her compassion, gratitude for her own recovery, and vibrant energy to help others. Olivia is a part-time student at CCV studying psychology. In the little spare time that she has, she enjoys singing, songwriting, playing guitar, writing, and
practicing yoga.