Board of Directors
We are proud to have assembled a committed team of peers who lead our efforts and help us provide support for people in recovery and their loved ones. Everyone involved with South Shore Peer Recovery including our volunteer board of directors has lived personal and/or professional experience dealing with the effects of substance use disorder. We see the impact on our families and communities and we feel passionately about the solution. People with lived experience can build and sustain an effective and powerful recovery community. Please join us today, there is a place for you in our community!
Our Founder and Board Member Emeritus – John Kimmett
John Kimmett is an individual in long term recovery from SUD, and a licensed and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Recovery Coach. John’s clinical experience includes facilitating group and individual therapy and collaborating with patients in development of aftercare planning. His approach includes welcoming families of those with substance use disorder as partners in the aftercare plan as part of the therapeutic process.
John worked as a professional counselor at Boston Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program, Boston, South Shore Recovery Home, Quincy, Mass Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center, Bridgewater (Department of Corrections), Gosnold Extended Care at Cataumet, and Men’s Addiction Treatment Center (MATC) for Section 35 commitments in Brockton.
While working to develop South Shore Peer Recovery, John became active with The Scituate FACTS Coalition. He mobilized a committed group of people in recovery and their allies and founded South Shore Peer Recovery in 2014 with the help of Annmarie Galvin. John spearheaded a co-responder model with the Scituate Police Department, where he offered counseling and referral to treatment to individuals and families in their homes after a non-fatal overdose or other substance-related referral. Placements from this pilot program have been very successful.
John resides in Scituate, Massachusetts with his wife Nancy. The Kimmetts have two adult sons and one adorable granddaughter. He enjoys motorcycle rides and travel in his leisure time.
Lauren Payne – Chairperson
Lauren Payne joined the efforts of South Shore Peer Recovery in 2015 after attending the screening of “The Anonymous People” documentary. The mother of a woman in recovery, she knows the impact of the disease on families and the power and hope that recovery brings. She has served as a founding Director since 2014 and served as the Interim ED from October 2018 – September 2019.
Lauren brings 30 years of experience working in the not-for-profit industry supporting children, families and people with disabilities. Most recently she served as the first Executive Director for Friendship Home in Norwell from 2008-2015. Prior to Friendship Home, Lauren worked for Lutheran Social Services of New England from 1982 – 2008, in progressive leadership roles. She has expertise in non-profit governance and leadership, program development, fundraising and staff development.
Lauren has been active in the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, having served as the founding Chair of the Not-for-profit affinity group of the Chamber. She provides training and consulting for area non-profits. Lauren resides in Pembroke, Massachusetts with her husband Bill and dog Lucy and is the proud parent of two adult children, a son Joshua and daughter Melissa.
Annmarie Galvin – Clerk
Annmarie Galvin is the Co-Founder of South Shore Peer Recovery along with John Kimmett. She is employed as The Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator for The Town of Scituate, MA, and serves as co-chair of the community-based Scituate FACTS Coalition (www.scituateFACTS.org).
Since co-founding Scituate FACTS in 2011, the group has enjoyed quick success implementing various programs across the continuum from prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery support. The Scituate FACTS Coalition is recognized for its grassroots beginning and capacity to get things done. The Coalition is particularly proud of its widespread support from the school district, established coalitions, police, parents, families who have been impacted by Substance Use Disorder, individuals in recovery, treatment providers, and our State Representative, Jim Cantwell (D-Marshfield). Expanding upon this model of peer and community engagement, Annmarie was inspired to shine a light on recovery as well, and help to formally establish South Shore Peer Recovery.
Annmarie brings her skills as a community organizer, program developer and grant writer to her role at South Shore Peer Recovery having written the Building Communities of Recovery Grant that launched several of South Shore Peer Recovery’s evidence based programs. Her passion for the work and ability to connect regionally have garnered several recognitions including South Shore Hospital’s Youth Health Connection Regional Champion (2013), citations from Gov. Patrick and DPH Director Bartlett (2014), The Scituate Mariner Citizen of the Year for 2014, and citations from the Massachusetts House and Senate (2015). The story of community action and hope for recovery is well captured in the April 2015 CBS News Religion & Culture documentary, “Faith, Hope and the Burden of Addiction.”
Annmarie lives in Scituate with her husband Barry and four school-aged children.
Ronald H. Orleans, CPA – Treasurer
Ron is a CPA who began his career 45 years ago with the international accounting firm, Deloitte, after a number of years Ron co-founded what has become one of New England’s largest accounting firms, DGC. In 2006, Ron semi-retired and now maintains a small practice in Scituate, MA.
Ron is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Massachusetts Society of CPAs and has been a guest speaker at Harvard University, MIT and The Department of Labor. Ron is also actively involved in real estate development, focusing primarily in the hospitality sector. Ron has previously been involved with the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, serving as President and Board member for many years and served several years on the Scituate Little League Board of Directors.
Ron, his wife Jeanne and son Josh, are individuals in recovery and have been actively involved in the south shore recovery community. Ron has been an active volunteer with South Shore Peer Recovery since 2017, serving on the finance committee and facilitating the SSPR Sober Softball League.
Janice Sullivan, MPH – Director
Janice joined the SSPR Board in 2020. She is the Interim President and CEO of Aspire Health Alliance (formerly South Shore Mental Health).
Joy Kingsbury – Director
Abigail Foley, LICSW – Director