Ross Shutak – Men’s Residential Program Director – Ross has been working for The Lighthouse as a House Manager since November 2016

Before working for The Lighthouse, Ross worked for a Christian Non-profit recovery center in Bridgeport, CT.

Ross has found his recovery through 12 Step Programs, Meditation, Community, and Prayer. Having been a self-proclaimed atheist himself, Ross is empathetic to guys in early recovery struggling with Spiritual proponents in 12 step programs.

Firmly believing in Recovery is more than just abstinence from substances, Ross practices improvement in all of his life. Ross loves to exercise, maintains a dedicated diet plan, and works on himself in personal relationships. He lives a very consistent and dependable lifestyle which is seen by our clients. When he gives advice, it is well received because he lives a life of self-improvement.

Elisabeth Connolly – Women’s Residential Program Director – Elisabeth hails from New Canaan, CT and completed her BA at Lehigh University.  She worked in advertising in NYC for several years prior to beginning her recovery journey in Southern California in 2015.

After taking vital time to work on herself, Elisabeth decided to refocus her passion, time and knowledge to help those suffering from substance use disorders and trauma.  She became deeply entrenched in the Southern California recovery community, managing a women’s sober home in Brentwood, CA and opening her own sober home in Malibu.  Elisabeth joined The Lighthouse and Recovery 365 in 2019.

Elisabeth loves to travel and is an avid outdoors woman.  In sobriety, she has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, skydived in Camarillo, CA and bungee jumped in Soweto, South Africa.

She is excited to bring her passion for recovery and helping others to recognize and achieve their goals to The Lighthouse’s women’s residence.

Mark Hyde – Residential Support Staff – Mark resides in Fairfield, Connecticut, has been working on his recovery since the 1980s and has been working for The Lighthouse since 2017.

In 2014, Mark embraced the concept of multiple pathways of recovery and chose to attend classes for state recognized sober coaching. In his personal plan for recovery, he incorporates AA and Refuge Recovery meetings, employs nutrition and exercise, meditation, and strong connection with spirituality.

Mark is a graduate of Bryant University with BA in Marketing and Financial Management. After graduation, he traveled extensively throughout Europe, North Africa, South America, and the United States.

Before working as a recovery coach, Mark worked in building craftsmanship and property management industry until he switched gears and chose a career as a financial brokerage representative with Lincoln Financial Group.

Mark shares all of his experience, strength, and hope with his coaching clients. He regards working with and emotionally supporting other alcoholics/addicts comforting as opposed to the widespread confusion of his past.

David Czaja – Recovery Coach – David Czaja joined The Lighthouse in 2018. In the summer of 2019, he fulfilled the requirements and achieved designation as a Recovery Coach Professional (RCP), from the Center for Addiction Recovery Training. David has been in recovery for 12 years. He is an active member of local and regional recovery communities, of which he maintains numerous recovery relationships in Fairfield county. David draws upon his empathy and curiosity while guiding his recovery, coaching clients in forging their path for recovery.

David is a lifetime member of the PGA. Before working with The Lighthouse Recovery 365, he coached golf for 25 years. As a PGA Golf Professional, David relied upon his knowledge, compassion, and problem-solving skills, to help shape outstanding golfers. In his recovery coaching services, David has sharpened these skills to help coach, men in early recovery. He relies upon active listening and his personal experiences to help others find the path in recovery, which works best for the individual — not everyone makes the same golf swing to achieve their best results. The same applies to recovery.

Stephanie Hazard – Recovery Coach – Stephanie Hazard joined the Recovery 365 coaching team in 2019. She is a Certified Recovery Coach Professional through the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) and works as a private recovery coach in CT and NYC.

Sober for 20 years, Stephanie understands the challenges and joys of being a mother in recovery and as a working professional. Her sober journey began when she was a single mother living in Greenwich and working in Manhattan.

Her experience as a sexual abuse survivor and her recovery from an eating disorder enable her to connect with women on multiple levels. She believes in multiple pathways to recovery and has developed recovery resources, relationships and a community network that includes leaders in the field of addiction and substance use disorder.

When she is not coaching a client, you can either find her on the stage or volunteering. As a classically trained actress, she has been performing for over 30 years and has appeared in numerous stage productions and play festivals. As a volunteer, she served on Liberation Programs’ Board of Directors for 8 years and currently volunteers her time at Silver Hill Hospital and the Theatre Artists Workshop.

Stephanie grew up in New York City where she enjoyed a career that spanned TV Commercial Production, Adverting, Marketing and Business Development. She lives in New Canaan with her husband who is a long time PMC volunteer and Co-Captain. Her two adult children, one a screenwriter and the other an artist, are both pursuing their careers in Los Angeles.

Clay Hamilton Colbath – Recovery Coach – Clay is a graduate of Colgate University and Boston College Graduate School of Management.  He serves an Elder of the Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, CT and has served as President of the Rotary, and as an officer of the Colgate Club of Fairfield County.

Formerly with RR Donnelley – Director of Business Development, and now a Director of ShareIntel in Rowayton, Clay brings an extensive resume with over 25 years in the securities and investment management field and 10 years as an entrepreneur.

Clay has lived recovery experience spanning 20+ years.  He is versed in 12 step recovery of AA  as well as other community support groups.  Clay joined The Lighhthouse and Recovery 365 in 2019.  As a Recovery Coach, Clay brings a combination of business and problem- solving skills to his passion for helping others find their pathway to sustained recovery.

Clay lives in Norwalk with his wife and their twin 6th grade children.

John Baitsell, Jr. – Recovery Coach – John has been in recovery since 2003. His personal recovery journey has left him dedicated to a life of love and service.  His nonjudgmental acceptance along with a deeply compassionate demeanor enable him to meet his clients where they are in their recovery.  He believes there are multiple pathways to recovery and is a certified SMART recovery facilitator.  Spirituality is foundational to his journey and he has been teaching and practicing meditation for decades.

John has had a wide variety of professional experiences. He has been a successful business owner, radio show host, created/lead spiritual workshops and was a professional stand- up comic in NYC for ten years.  He currently owns and operates a horse farm in Bedford, NY.

John joined The Lighthouse in 2019.  He holds the CCAR designation as a Recovery Coach Professional (RCP) and is certified in the state of New York as an Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC).

His motto is “Palms up and boots on the ground”.

Lowell Patrick Oden – Recovery Coach – Patrick is a graduate of City College NY with a major in history. He has a continuing passion for the topic. As a lyricist and lead singer, Patrick has a deep understanding of the pressures that face professionals who need to meet deadlines and to present a polished product. His early work life focused on supporting his musical passion by working in the hospitality and beverage distribution industries.

Patrick is a graduate of CCAR Recovery Coach Academy and the Co-Chair of Friends of Recovery Westchester Youth Committee. In 2019 he joined The Lighthouse and Recovery 365. Patrick has a deep knowledge of the many pathways to recovery with experience in SMART Recovery and traditional 12 Step programs. In developing his comprehensive personal recovery regimen, he knows that recovery is not a one-size-fits-all program.

Patrick’s years of working with people from all walks of life helped him develop an empathetic approach to his work with clients as they create their own recovery pathways and build recovery capital. For Patrick there is no better feeling than helping a person in early recovery begin to achieve their goals.