Wes Rider
Wes Rider recently retired, after a thirty-year career in the field of social work. After graduating from East Carolina University with a BSW in 1993, Wes worked in a variety of social work roles, most of which focused on supporting people to gain or maintain employment. Early in his career, Wes served on one of the first teams to implement person centered planning in NC. Wes has been a long-time recovery champion and advocate for recovery-oriented supports and consumer run service programs.Rosemary Weaver
Rosemary has been a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist since 2008. She also achieved the Advanced Level National Peer Support Certification in 2018. Additional certifications include Work Incentives Practitioner for SSI/SSDI beneficiaries, Digital Peer Support, Digital Peer Support Supervision, Supporting Older Adults Remotely, and Wellness Recovery Action Plan Facilitator. Rosemary trained peer support specialists under 2 different NC curriculums from 2013-2017. She is a former Chair of the SCFAC and served on two legislative sub-committees (Blue Ribbon Commission on Transitions to Community Living Initiative and LME/MCO Governance.) Rosemary has been employed as a peer specialist for 16 years including as an Independent Living Specialist, a Forensic Peer Specialist in a state hospital and a forensic treatment center, providing online peer support groups and training on effective support group facilitation. Rosemary has presented at state, national and international conferences on various peer support topics, including Person First Language, Recovery Oriented Systems of Care, Advocacy, Forensic Peer Support, and Peer Support in State Hospitals.
Al Thomas
Al Thomas is a Peer Support Specialist, Trainer and Wrap Facilitator for North Carolina, originally from St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Thomas has worked on countless forums and committees that assist individuals in improving their unwanted conditions and create the reality they desire. Mr. Thomas is a psychology major at North Carolina Central University with a minor in African American Studies. Mr. Thomas has used related skills of personal experience and the study of human behavior to promote self-help, self advocacy, as well as other pertinent skills that result in long term sustainable outcomes for individual to progress effectively with daily living.