From jail to recovery: Ex-Ben & Jerry’s leader to speak at Seacoast Mental Health Summit

DOVER — The third annual Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery in the Workplace Summit will take place Tuesday, May 21, at the Cochecho Country Club in Dover from 8 to 10:30 a.m.

Keynote speaker Mickey Wiles is the founder and chief executive officer of Vermont-based Working Fields, a mission-driven staffing agency that helps individuals overcome barriers to employment and build stable futures. Wiles has had a long career in the private-sector business community where he held various leaderships roles, including a stint as chief operating officer at Ben & Jerry’s. He is in long-term recovery and was provided a second chance after spending time in federal prison. For the last 19 years, he has worked to help others seeking a second chance after living with substance use disorder and/or having experience with justice involvement.

The Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery in the Workplace Summit is designed to help employers explore stigma around mental health and substance use disorder in the workplace. Topics include how to recognize potential mental health or substance use issues, how to provide a safe environment for employees to seek help, and resources available for employers.

Additional panelists include LDI Solutions President and founder Josh Dame, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Assistant Vice President of Behavioral Health Services Kellie Mueller, and Cornerstone VNA Vice President of Operations Jennifer Ufkin. Forward Merch, a local entertainment merchandiser, will present a case study about how it successfully draws from the recovery community to fill vacant positions.

The summit is presented by the Seacoast Chamber Alliance, the Dover Mental Health Alliance, and the Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative. Registration is $15 for chamber members and $20 for not-yet members. To register, visit dovernh.org/wellness . The event is underwritten by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and sponsored by Kennebunk Savings,

The Seacoast Chamber Alliance consists of the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, and the Falls Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit visitseacoastnh.com .

The Dover Mental Health Alliance’s mission is to build a resilient community that is educated, responsive and conscious of the impact of mental illness. For more information visit dovermentalhealthalliance.org . The Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative promotes individual wellness for Granite Stater citizens by empowering workplaces to provide support for people recovering from substance use disorder. For more information visit recoveryfriendlyworkplace.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: From jail to recovery: Ex-Ben & Jerry’s leader to speak at Seacoast Mental Health Summit